Ryan Giggs expects Manchester United to use the bitter memory of their title slip at Chelsea to kill off Barcelona in today’s Champions League semi-final second-leg.
   Sir Alex Ferguson’s side missed a chance to effectively wrap up the Premier League on Saturday as Michael Ballack’s late penalty moved Chelsea level on points with the leaders.
   United can still retain the crown by winning their last two matches but they departed Stamford Bridge in a cloud of acrimony.
   Their frustration at such a lacklustre display against Chelsea boiled over in spectacular fashion with Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra involved in separate angry altercations with stewards and ground staff after the match.
   Now they must regain their equilibrium as Barcelona arrive in Manchester. After the first leg 0-0 draw last week, United are slight favourites but a score-draw would send the Catalan club through on away goals.
   With so much at stake against Frank Rijkaard’s side, United captain Giggs believes there is no chance of a hangover from their meltdown in west London.
   ‘We’ve got to lift ourselves as there is no bigger game,’ Giggs said. ‘We want to win the league and we want to get in the Champions League final and we’ve got a chance to do that.
   ‘We’ve got the players. We showed that, especially in the second half against Chelsea and we are looking forward to the game.’
   United’s form in recent weeks is hardly encouraging for Ferguson’s team. They have won only two of their last six matches and the injuries suffered by Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney at Chelsea have come at the worst possible time.
   But playing for a first Champions League final appearance for nine years should be all the motivation United need. And if that isn’t enough Giggs’s team-mate Darren Fletcher insists the desire to erase the pain of that Chelsea setback is an extra incentive.
   ‘The most important thing is to pick ourselves up. We’ve got some big games coming up now,’ Fletcher said.
   ‘We’ve got to use this anger and we’ve got to fuel it in the right direction and focus on Barcelona and then those two league games.’
   A May 21 final against Chelsea or Liverpool in Moscow lies in wait for the winners of tonight.
   The European Cup has been Ferguson’s holy grail in recent seasons as the gap grows since his only triumph in the competition against Bayern Munich in 1999.
   Ferguson’s United legacy is secure but three previous defeats at this stage of Europe’s elite club competition have left him unfulfilled.
   Perhaps it was that desperation to not to crash out again that caused Ferguson to send out a cautious team in the Nou Camp last Wednesday. Barcelona were certainly unimpressed by United’s timidity as they bossed the game.
   All that was missing from Bara’s most impressive display for months was a cutting edge.
   Rijkaard could remedy that flaw by recalling Theirry Henry, whose brief cameo in the first leg suggests he could add a much-needed directness to Barca’s fluent approach play.
   The France striker expects United to be far more adventurous this time in what is certain to be a raucous atmosphere. But he is confident his side will cope with the Old Trafford experience.
   ‘It’s not like Anfield, which has an incredible atmosphere, but there is some atmosphere,’ Henry said. ‘With Arsenal we played some incredible games there. It was always a pretty fight.
   ‘It will be an important moment for United after playing Chelsea, especially knowing that playing against us won’t be easy.
   ‘We might have more space but they will also create more danger.
   ‘In Spain they didn’t play their game because we played well and we expect something different there.’

The excuses put forth by the national cricketers for their miserable failure on the recent tour of Pakistan could hardly satisfy the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, who had summoned the tour party on Monday.
   ‘It was not possible for us to agree with some of the excuses they gave. We saw the matches in television and found some of the mistakes being committed repeatedly. There should not be any excuses for those mistakes,’ said Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the chairman cricket operations committee of the BCB.
   A three-member committee, comprised of Ashraf, Shafiqur Rahman and Ahmed Sazzadul Alam, held a separate meeting with captain Mohammad Ashraful, vice-captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza and tour manager Shafiqul Haque Hira at the Navana Tower, the corporate office of the BCB.
   The BCB officials also talked with the cricketers dividing them into several groups. Coach Jamie Siddons was not available as he has been holidaying in Australia. It was learnt that the BCB will also talk to him once he returns.
   ‘We are not in a position to feel satisfied after scoring a mere 200 runs in a few games. We have left the days behind us and we should look forward,’ Ashraf told reporters after the meeting.
   The BCB officials said no decision to cut the financial benefits of the players has yet been made, but they felt that at least there should be a provision to penalise the players for poor performances in future.
   The BCB also decided to increase the interaction with the players so that their problems can be addressed properly. ‘They have raised some issues which we think should be solved.
   ‘We will not allow them to make the same excuses every time they end a series badly,’ said Ashraf.
   Captain Mohammad Ashrful refused to disclose the issues he raised at the meeting, but admitted inexperience was one of the main obstacles for his side to do well in the recent matches.
   ‘We are a largely a young side. Even I am a young player, though I have played a good number of matches,’ said Ashrful, who also defended his statement that he sees some improvement on the tour.
   ‘As a captain I have to stay positive. I can’t be always busy with all those negative stuff,’ said Ashraful

India spinner Harbhajan Singh was handed an 11-match ban from a domestic Twenty20 tournament on Monday after being found guilty of slapping national team-mate Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.
   The bowler could also face further punishment from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which announced a separate probe into the incident that took place in Mohali on Friday night.
   Harbhajan, 27, allegedly slapped Sreesanth, 25, soon after a match, leaving the young paceman weeping inconsolably in full view of television cameras.
   Harbhajan, who was leading Mumbai, later apologised to Punjab’s Sreesanth and the two appeared to have made up by calling each other ‘brothers.’
   But match referee Farokh Engineer held a hearing on Monday after the Punjab team management lodged a formal complaint against Harbhajan to tournament officials.
   Engineer, a former India Test wicket-keeper, imposed an 11-match ban on Harbhajan, which means the off-spinner can play only if Mumbai make the semi-finals.
   ‘The referee studied video tapes of the incident and found the assault by Harbhajan was totally unprovoked,’ tournament organiser Lalit Modi said.
   The BCCI on Monday appointed lawyer Sudhir Nanavati to probe the charges against Harbhajan, who is on its payroll as a centrally-contracted player.
   Nanavati will submit his findings within 15 days after which the BCCI will decide on further action against the bowler, a release from the cricket body said.
   Harbhajan could be charged by the BCCI under level 4 of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct which deals with assaulting a fellow player.
   If found guilty, he could be banned for life or five Test matches or 10 one-day internationals.
   ‘The BCCI will not hesitate to take action against Harbhajan just because he has already been punished by the tournament organisers,’ said Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer.
   ‘We want to show that such acts of indiscipline will not be tolerated.’

Deccan Chargers (155/0) beat Mumbai Indians (154/7) by ten wickets
   Adam Gilchrist ignited the DY Patil Stadium with the fastest century of the tournament as the Deccan Chargers raced to their first win. The battle between the two bottom-ranked teams was a no-contest once Gilchrist teed off, and Deccan charged to an emphatic ten-wicket victory in the first major game at the stadium.
   Andrew Symonds had got a century off 47 deliveries the previous game but Gilchrist needed only 42 as he decimated the weak Mumbai Indians’ attack on a small ground. The intent was aggressive right from the word go, and Gilchrist made use of short deliveries in the first over from Ashish Nehra, dispatching one over square leg and the other through cover point.
   Pulls and cuts were played with ease as Mumbai’s quicker bowlers erred in their length, and after six fours, Gilchrist hit his first six, lofting Sanath Jayasuriya over deep midwicket. Siddharth Chitnis, the off-break bowler making his Twenty20 debut, was spared by going only for 12 in the last Powerplay over, but Shaun Pollock, leading Mumbai in Harbhajan Singh’s absence, was taken apart once the field restrictions were off.
   Gilchrist savagely pulled Pollock over the deep backward square-leg boundary for consecutive sixes, the first bringing up his first Twenty20 fifty. The shot that followed pierced the off-side boundary, and Gilchrist then nonchalantly moved across the stumps to launch one over long leg, making it 23 for the over.
   Abhishek Nayar’s arrival was greeted with three sixes, the third over midwicket brought up the hundred, and more astonishing was the fact that he had reached the mark as early as on the stroke of the tenth over. From then on, victory was just a formality, and Deccan reached their target with 48 balls to spare, both indication of the fury that had been unleashed. At the other end, VVS Laxman scored just 37 in a stand of 155, easily the highest of the tournament. Mumbai might have been at the receiving end, but the home crowd too cheered what had been an enthralling innings. Ninety-six of Gilchrist’s 109 came through boundaries, making it a busy day for the Deccan cheerleaders, who were sporting a new outfit.
   A new home ground and a new captain surely didn’t bring about a turn of fortunes for Mumbai, and Deccan justified Laxman’s decision to field first by restricting them to 154. Laxman’s captaincy had come under the hammer after three consecutive losses, but on Sunday he was right on the ball. He was quick to shuffle around his bowlers, who to their credit, backed up their captain’s decision with some good bowling.
   It was only the string of 30s from the middle order that helped Mumbai reach 154. Pollock made a run-a-ball 31 to revive the innings, but it was the quickfire 34s from Nayar and Dwayne Bravo that ensured the Mumbai bowlers had a decent total to defend.
   Jayasuriya and Luke Ronchi had failed to make an impression in earlier games, and they were kept quiet once again, despite the short boundaries, by RP Singh and Nuwan Zoysa. Ronchi hit three fours, but fell attempting to slash a wide delivery angled across from RP, edging straight to Laxman at slip.
   Sanjay Bangar was brought on in the fourth over, perhaps to help Zoysa change ends, and Ajinkya Rahane, another Twenty20 debutant, pulled straight into the hands of Pragyan Ojha at deep square leg. The next move from Laxman though was a masterstroke. Shahid Afridi was brought on in the final over of the Powerplay, and he had Robin Uthappa caught behind. At the end of six overs, Mumbai were tottering at 27 for 3.
   Jayasuriya had made only 4 off his first ten deliveries, and one pitched short from Zoysa fetched him his first boundary, which came off his 14th. But, once again Afridi did the damage, Jayasuriya got a top edge as he tried to power a googly through the leg side. The onus was then on Pollock to hold the innings together, but he too couldn’t stay till the end.
   Nayar smashed three sixes in his 19-ball innings, as 45 runs came in the overs 14 to 16. But he top-edged to Gilchrist while trying to hook Zoysa. Bravo too managed to find the gaps, and was out for 34 off the last ball of the innings as Mumbai finished on 154. However, with the form Gilchrist was in, even 254 would have been tough to defend for Mumbai, who now have four losses after four games, and sorely need Sachin Tendulkar to return.

Had Adam Gilchrist been allowed to bat longer, he would almost certainly have broken Brendon McCullum’s record of 13 sixes in the opening game of the IPL. So breathtaking was Gilchrist’s assault that he smashed ten sixes during his 48-ball innings and achieved the Deccan Chargers’ maiden victory of the tournament with 44 balls to spare. His 109 not out was his first Twenty20 score above 50, the IPL’s fastest century, and the third-fastest in all Twenty20 matches.
   It shouldn’t surprise many, for Gilchrist had nearly broken Viv Richards’ record for the fastest Test century against England in Perth in 2006. Richards’ record was 56 balls, Gilchrist did it in 57. He later broke the record for the highest score in a World Cup final when he ransacked Sri Lanka for 149 off 104 balls. And today, in front of a full house at the DY Patil Stadium, Gilchrist left his ominous mark on the Twenty20 format, smashing his previous highest score of 48.
   He took full advantage of a bowling attack that was low on confidence after three successive losses and perhaps tired, having played their third game this week inside five days. The suspension of Harbhajan Singh and the continued absence of Sachin Tendulkar heightened their problems even though Shaun Pollock, the stand-in captain, refused to single out the pair’s absence as an ‘excuse’.
   Gilchrist, however, wasn’t about to sympathise. He had to inspire his own team who, despite a formidable batting line-up, had endured three straight defeats. His job was made easier by the Deccan bowlers who restricted Mumbai to a below-par 154. And once Mumbai’s bowlers began to feed him short deliveries, Gilchrist feasted.
   Even Pollock, the former South Africa captain, buckled and made seven bowling changes inside the first ten overs. It didn’t matter for Gilchirst treated everyone the same way. Pollock was smashed for 23 in an over, Abhishek Nayar for 22, young offspinner Siddharth Chitnis for 12, and Dwayne Bravo got hit for over ten twice.
   Gilchrist traumatised the Mumbai bowlers and carted them over the leg side even if the length was only a fraction short. He scored 77 runs on the leg side and nine of his ten sixes came between long leg and long-on, courtesy a shuffle towards the off side and a full and fast swing of his bat.
   Unlike McCullum, whose 158 against Bangalore Royal Challengers had some streaky shots, Gilchrist’s strokes were extremely well hit. Like a good writer, who banks on brevity, Gilchrist’s batting is minimalist.
   He judges the length quickly and then needs to decide where to dispatch the ball.
   Gilchrist’s dominance was total. Within an hour, Deccan had scored 100, 77 of which had come from Gilchrist. VVS Laxman, the Deccan captain, was a happy spectator at the other end and said later that Gilchrist was ‘unstoppable’ and he was lucky not having to worry setting fields for him.
   Each time the IPL has had uncertainty hanging over it, a brilliant performance by a player has overshadowed the questions. When people wondered whether the tournament would be a success, McCullum provided a pyrotechnic start. And now when the Harbhajan Singh-Sreesanth controversy was taking centrestage, Gilchrist has shifted the focus back to cricket in the best way possible.

The Green Delta Premier Hockey League begins today with co-holders and recently crowned Club Cub champions Abahani taking on Wari Club in the opening match at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium.
   The other joint league champions Usha KC will meet Bangladesh Sporting Cub on Wednesday before runners-up Dhaka Mariners take on Sadharan Bima.
   A total of 10 teams will be competing in the league that has no provision for relegation. Top five teams will play in the Super League and the highest point-earners will be declared champions.
   If two teams are level on points at the top, the championship will be decided through a play-off match. And if the play-off match remains undecided in 70 minutes, the match will go into extra time. The match will be ended immediately after a goal is scored, other wise it will be decided by tie-breaker.
   Three foreign players are allowed to play in a side, but the teams have to register their names at least 24 hours before a game starts.
   The rules and regulations of the league were revealed at a press conference at the Bangladesh Hockey Federation office on Monday. The title sponsor, Green Delta Insurance Company Limited, had provided Tk 20 lakh for three seasons starting from 2006. But as there was no league last year, this will be the second year of the contract.
   To meet some additional expenses, the company will also provide Tk 2.5 lakh for this season, said Sajed Adel, the BHF general-secretary. Nazim Tajik Chowdhury, the general manager of Green Delta, and Ehtesham Sultan, the secretary of league committee, also spoke at the press conference.

A five-wicket haul by Asif Hasan guided the Bangladesh Under-15 team to an emphatic 187-run win against Kenya in the second round league match of CLICO International Under-15 Championship on Sunday at the National Cricket Centre at Couva.
   Bangladesh meet Ireland in the third round match today at the same venue.
   Sent in to bat first, Bangladesh posted 257-8 in the stipulated 50 overs riding on two fifties from Rakin Ahmed and Liton Kumar Das. Rakin top-scored with 75 while Liton made 64.
   Mohammed Hossain 33 and Ratnak Saha 22 were the other notable scorers for Bangladesh junior team.
   Emmanuel Bundi grabbed 2-53 for the Junior Kenyan side.
   In reply, Kenya were bundled out for 70 in 40.5 overs with Irfan Karim scoring highest 28. Asif claimed five for 11 while Shahriar Islam took four for 10.

The Bangladesh women’s cricket team arrived in Colombo on Sunday. The team was received at the airport by officials of Sri Lanka Cricket and officials from the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo.
   The team will play their first match against India on May 2.

Visiting Pakistan National Cricket Academy team handed the hosts GP-BCB Academy an eight-wicket defeat with a day to spare in the first four-day match at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra on Monday.
   Chasing an easy target of 128 on the third day of the match, opener Khurram Manzoor stroked an unbeaten 65 off 105 balls with nine fours and two sixes as Pakistan romped home making 133 for 2 in 32.5 overs. Another opener Ahmad Shehzad scored 27 runs.
   Skipper Mehrab Hossain Jr. and Raihanuddin Arafat took one wicket each for the GP-BCB Academy team.
   The defeat was all but certain when the hosts were able to add only 32 runs to their overnight 144-4 to be all out for 176 runs in 45 overs. Wahab Riaz, the new inclusion in the side after the one-day tournament, captured five wickets for 35 runs while Anwar Ali claimed 3-49.
   Shamsur Rahman could add another 13 runs to his overnight score before being out for 35 facing 77 balls that featured six boundaries while his overnight partner Nasir made 5.
   Wahab Riaz was adjudged the man of the match for his eight wickets in the match.

Controversial Australian cricket umpire Darrell Hair is set to return to international cricket after being appointed to stand in the second Test between England and New Zealand which will be his first taste of international action since 2006.
   The 55-year-old was recalled to the elite panel of umpires last month after the International Cricket Council decided to reinstate him.
   Hair was dumped from the panel following an abandoned match between England and Pakistan at The Oval in 2006, which ended with the tourists conceding the first Test forfeit in the game’s history.
   His reinstatement after a ‘rehabilitation’ course, has been heavily criticised by Pakistan.
   Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq - who led his team off the pitch in the test where Hair ruled against them - said he was ‘shocked and disgusted’ by Hair’s reinstatement.
   Hair - who has said he is prepared to officiate in test matches in Pakistan if called upon to do so - will stand with Simon Taufel in Manchester between May 23-27 and will also officiate in the third Test, with West Indian Steve Bucknor. Taufel and Bucknor will umpire in the first Test at Lord’s, which starts on 15 May.

Britain, which long prided itself on a reputation for good manners, is becoming increasingly rude, according to a poll on Monday.
   Highly-paid footballers and celebrities are setting a bad example, according to the survey, which listed spitting and swearing as the most offensive forms of behaviour.
   Almost nine out of 10 people – 86.2 per cent – think Britons have become ruder than a decade ago, found the poll for the ITV1 Tonight television programme.
   ‘I suppose it’s part of the breakdown in society, the fact that we stopped having respect for figures in authority, partly because those in authority didn’t command it,’ said Diana Mather, an etiquette coach.
   Britons traditionally liked to think of themselves as superior to foreigners at things like queuing and giving up their seats on public transport to disabled people or pregnant women.
   But the rise of football culture – and football hooligans creating mayhem – has long dented this image abroad, and now Britons themselves acknowledge that they have a major problem.
   More than half of those asked – 56.5 per cent – thought bad manners were the biggest problem in the country, according to the survey based on answers from some 2,800 adults.
   Spitting caused the most offence for 27.6 per cent, ahead of swearing by 20.2 per cent, followed by queue-jumping, talking loudly on mobile phones, not saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you,’ and belching or passing wind in public. Nearly 75 per cent of Britons think the behaviour of celebrity footballers encourages bad manners in society.
   But when asked to name the worst influence on children’s manners, 63.8 per cent blamed the behaviour and lack of discipline of parents, with over 90 per cent saying parents are failing to pass on basic manners to their children.
   Some 15.9 per cent said celebrities and footballers were the worst influence, followed by 5.4 percent for television programmes.
   ‘I think my generation has a lot to answer for because I think the youth culture in the 60s and early 70s threw out every rule book and thought it was really clever to use four letter words and so on,’ said Esther Rantzen, patron of Campaign for Courtesy.
   ‘But I think things should go back, not to the old deference, not to grovelling, not to any of that, but just to feeling respect, because I think that would make everyone’s life pleasanter.’

Rafael Nadal hailed his historic fourth successive Monte Carlo Masters title triumph as a ‘special moment’ which rewarded his fighting spirit.
   Nadal beat Roger Federer 7-5, 7-5 in Sunday’s final but had to come back from 0-4 down in the second set on his way to claiming seven of the last eight games.
   It was his 24th career crown and he became the first man since New Zealander Anthony Wilding in 1914 to win four Monte Carlo titles in a row and the first in the Open era.
   It was also his 22nd successive victory in the tournament and 98th win in his last 99 claycourt matches; his only loss was in the Hamburg Masters final in 2007 when Federer brought his record 81-match winning streak to a halt.
   To hammer home his dominance, he then teamed up with compatriot Tommy Robredo to win the doubles as well.
   ‘If I was going to lose the second set, I was going to lose 6-2 or something, anything but 6-0,’ said the champion.
   ‘So I was determined to win every point. He was controlling the court, so I had to come inside more.
   ‘To win this tournament for a fourth time is a special moment. I didn’t play well in Indian Wells or Miami and if I was going to lose here then I was going to lose playing well.’
   Federer described Nadal as a ‘hell of a claycourt player’.
   Sunday’s defeat was the world number one’s third loss in a row in the final against the Spaniard and his seventh defeat in eight claycourt clashes, the deadly slow surface on which the 21-year-old Mallorcan, the triple French Open champion, is the undisputed ruler.
   ‘He’s a hell of a claycourt player,’ admitted world number one Federer who has now lost nine of his 15 career meetings with Nadal.
   ‘You can’t get away with just serving well because he scrambles so well and can break you at ease.
   ‘He’s also a more complete player now. He reached the final in the doubles here as well which you wouldn’t have expected and he’s still very young.
   ‘Rafa plays compact and tough and the clay court is so natural for him. He’s improving but so am I. It won’t get any easier to beat him but I feel I’m right there.’
   Federer had his opportunities on Sunday.
   He broke first in both sets and was 4-0 ahead in the second before Nadal stormed to victory.
   ‘It’s hard to imagine winning this title for four years in a row,’ said Nadal who collected his first trophy since winning in Stuttgart last July. Federer, who had been just two points away from defeat in his first match against Spain’s world number 137 Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, was full of praise for his opponent.
   ‘I have to congratulate Rafa. It seems to be the same thing every year here,’ he said.
   ‘He played great but I have to be happy with my tournament especially since I could have lost in the first round.
   ‘It was a tough match. I played OK but I’m disappointed that I let him back into the match.’
   Federer, who was laid low by glandular fever in January and lost his Australian Open title, said he was taking positives from the match.
   ‘I’ve come back strong and I’m happy where things are right now. It’s been a positive week for me. I could have lost in the first round. But I’ve beaten some great players here and pushed Rafa today.
   ‘I know I can beat him if I play the right way - I didn’t have that feeling when I played here last year. I’m healthy and moving well.
   ‘My attacking game didn’t work today, that’s where I lost too many points,’ added the world number one who sent down an ugly 44 unforced errors to Nadal’s 20.

Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard has pledged to stay true to his side’s attacking philosophy for tonight’s Champions League semi-final showdown at Manchester United.
   Following last week’s goalless first-leg draw at the Nou Camp, Barca could have opted for a safety-first attitude for today’s return meeting at Old Trafford and look to sneak an away goal.
   However, that would be a break from tradition for a side famed for their forward play, and Rijkaard believes it would be wrong to switch to more defensive tactics for the game with United.
   ‘I think that we have always maintained our style of play wherever we have been, with only one exception, which was when we went to play at Chelsea’s ground,’ Rijkaard said, recalling the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in October 2006.
   ‘There we played much more defensively than we are used to because at that point Chelsea were a very well-armed, organised and hard-working team, who were very dangerous on the counter-attack.
   ‘But against Manchester United we have to play strong. To defend is not the correct course of action in this case. We have to play with aggression and by putting them under pressure.’
   Rijkaard knows it is unlikely to be easy at Old Trafford, but is adamant his side can put aside their poor domestic form and make it through to the Champions League final.
   ‘It is a difficult ground and a strong team, but I think that we can get through,’ said the Dutchman, who side have won just one of their last nine league matches while on Saturday they lost 2-0 at Deportivo La Coruna - a result that ultimately ended their chances of catching Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid.
   Rijkaard added: ‘United are a team that have no fear. They play how they know, with a good attitude, with a lot of individual talent and without complicating things.
   ‘On Tuesday I am sure they will come out more to attack than at the Nou Camp and we must take advantage of our chances. The keys to the tie? To be aggressive and put them under a lot of pressure so as to make life difficult for them.
   ‘To defend the result is not our style. We need to worry only about our play.’
   Barca may be famed for their adventurous attacking style and ability to carve open even the most watertight of defences, but that has not been the case in recent weeks with the Catalan giants having failed to score in their last three games.
   It is a concern for Rijkaard, who said on television channel TV3: ‘We are finding it hard to score goals, but for this we need to work on our movements and have the desire to put on more effort and the desire to improve.’
   With the Champions League now the only chance Barca have of avoiding a second successive trophy-less season, there is even more pressure on Rijkaard heading into Tuesday’s match.
   Speculation has been rife this season about whether the former Ajax and AC Milan midfielder will still be in charge at the Nou Camp during the next campaign.
   However, Rijkaard refused to talk about what might happen at the end of the season, saying: I live day by day and I have a lot of desire and now I want to complete the job. Then we will see.
   ‘The club have always helped me a lot but we need to see what is best for club.
   ‘I can imagine the logical anger of the fans (if Barca get knocked out of Europe), but we are going to give everything to bring the supporters some joy.’

Former ICC chairman Malcolm Gray has condemned as ‘disgraceful’ Malcolm Speed’s removal as head of cricket’s world governing body, reports said Monday.
   Gray said the chief executive’s premature departure from the International Cricket Council in a row over Zimbabwe was a sign that power, money and race are interfering with the sport’s administration.
   ‘I think it’s disgraceful. To me it smacks of mismanagement of a man leaving his position. By doing this it just shows there are problems,’ Gray told Melbourne’s The Age newspaper.
   ‘Whether it’s a cricket body or a corporation you don’t bare your dirty washing in public if you can help it.’
   The International Cricket Council announced on Friday that Speed is to step down early over Zimbabwe.
   The announcement was seen as further proof of the problems posed to world cricket by the troubled African state, now dealing with the fall-out from a disputed presidential election.
   The extraordinary development was reportedly prompted by Speed’s unhappiness at the board’s failure to take any significant action against Zimbabwe Cricket after an independent forensic audit raised questions about its finances.
   Gray, who recruited fellow Australian Speed into the ICC job, said Speed’s dismissal two months before his retirement showed there was something wrong at the administration’s highest level.
   ‘In this case I’d have thought it would be completely avoidable,’ he said.
   ‘I suspect parts of the problems have been brought about by the use of power, with the money flowing in, underlying a lot of decisions in international bodies. Regrettably, there are racial connotations.’
   Cricket Australia chairman Creagh O’Connor also said he regretted the manner of Speed’s departure.
   ‘As chairman of Cricket Australia, I note with regret that Malcolm Speed’s distinguished career as an international cricket administrator has ended in the manner in which it has,’ Creagh said in a CA statement released late Sunday.

Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova will represent Russia in the women’s singles at the Beijing Olympics, the country’s federation chief Shamil Tarpishchev said Monday.
   ‘We can send four single players and two doubles to Beijing,’ Tarpishchev told the press. ‘Sharapova and Kuznetsova will definitely play in the women’s tournament, while the other girls will fight it out for the two remaining places.’
   Three times Grand Slam tournament winner Sharapova is set to become one of the biggest names competing in Beijing and is certain to attract huge media attention.

Jawad Hussain, a former Ranji Trophy cricketer who gave England its first Indian-born cricket captain, has died.
   Jawad - better known as Joe - Hussain, whose Chennai-born son Nasser captained England from 1999 to 2003, passed away Saturday after a long illness.
   A passionate cricketer, Joe Hussain was a popular coach of several county players in the town of Ilford.
   He is credited with developing the talents of not only Nasser - one of England’s most successful recent captains - but also England players Ravi Bopara, James Foster and Varun Chopra.
   Joe Hussain played only one first-class match, for the erstwhile Madras side against Andhra Pradesh in the 1964-65 Ranji Trophy - a game that Madras won.
   Hussain was born in Chennai, but described himself as 70 percent Chennai and 30 percent Bangalorean because his mother came from Karnataka.
   After finishing a science degree from Loyola College in Chennai, he migrated to England in 1963 where he met and married his English wife Patricia. He returned to Chennai two years later where Nasser was born in 1968.
   ‘We were a cricket mad family,’ Joe Hussain said some years ago. ‘I used to play for the Madras Cricket Club. I used to play all my cricket there.’
   The family returned to England in 1975, where Hussain ran his successful indoor cricket school.

The inter-department cricket tournament began at the playground of the Islamic University here on Monday.
   IU Treasurer ASM Anwarul Karim inaugurated the tournament at 10.00am as the chief guest. Director of IU Physical Training & Sports Centre Mohammad Shohel presided over the ceremony.
   In the inaugural match, Information & Communication Engineering (ICE) department defeated Applied Nutrition & Food Technology (ANFT) department by 6 wickets. Batting first, ANFT were all out for 74 runs in the 19th over. Later, ICE reached the target for the loss of four wickets.
   Captain of the winning team Rassel took 2 wickets and scored 28 runs. A total of 20 departments of the university are taking part in the tournament, sources said.

The election of the Panchagar District Sports Association for the period of 2008-2011 will be held on May 17, according to a schedule declared by the district administration.
   Manjur Hasan Bhuyan, the additional deputy commissioner of Panchagar declared the schedule on Saturday following a meeting at the government auditorium in Panchagar.
   As per the schedule, the nomination paper will have to be submitted on May 3, which will be scrutinised on the following day. The last date for withdrawal of the nomination paper is on May 7.
   Additional district magistrate Shafiul Alam will act as the election commissioner.

The Inter-university Basketball Tournament begins at the Jahangirnagar University Gymnasium today.
   The JU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Mohammad Muniruzzaman, will inaugurate the competition as chief guest.

Barcelona playmaker Deco reckons the Catalan giants will reach the Champions League final if they play with the same intensity as they did in the first leg against Manchester United.
   Frank Rijkaard’s team head into today’s semi-final second leg at Old Trafford with the tie finely poised after the goalless first encounter at the Nou Camp.
   Deco, who was substituted after a fine display last Wednesday, believes a similar performance in England will earn his team a place at the showpiece final in Moscow next month.
   ‘It will be a different game and, if we can get past their first line of pressure and play with the same intensity as the first leg, we have a lot of possibilities,’ he told www.fcbarcelona.cat.
   Deco has experience of knocking United out of the Champions League from his time with Porto.
   Jose Mourinho’s team shocked Europe by winning the competition back in 2004, eliminating Sir Alex Ferguson’s side 3-2 on aggregate at the last-16 stage.
   Deco remembers vividly the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford which ensured his side’s place in the last eight, and acknowledges that was their toughest obstacle en route to the trophy.
   ‘We suffered a lot because they went ahead,’ he said. ‘We were better, playing well and controlling the game, and we ended up drawing - although they also had a goal disallowed.
   ‘It was, without doubt, the most difficult match getting to the final, but also the most emotional having scored at the end.’
   The Portugal international reckons there is not much difference between the 2004 United and the 2008 version - only that two-time PFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is a much more fearsome prospect now.
   ‘I don’t think they’ve changed that much,’ he said. ‘All they have now is Cristiano Ronaldo stronger than before. Then he was much younger and wasn’t the centre of attraction, but in general they are still a strong team.’
   Deco expects the Red Devils to attack from the outset but believes if Barca handle the onslaught they will reap the benefits.
   ‘I think that in the first 15 to 20 minutes they’re going to really push it and try and get the atmosphere on their side with a lot of pressure,’ he said.
   ‘I think if we can handle this initial situation it will be to our benefit. It’s a special pitch, without a doubt, and also a special atmosphere, but this won’t affect us. We have very experienced players.’
   The 30-year-old insists he is not worried his team have failed to score in any of their last three games.
   ‘We would worry if we were not creating,’ he said. ‘Because when you don’t create it’s more complicated. The fact that we are creating is a good sign for scoring so I’m not worried.’

Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld admitted the league title race is over after Franck Ribery struck twice to seal a 4-1 win over VfB Stuttgart to put his side 12 points clear at the top of the table.
   Only a mathematical miracle can stop Bayern Munich being crowned German champions after super sub Ribery wasted no time after coming off the bench in the 57th minute in Sunday’s game.
   The 25-year-old immediately picked up a yellow card, then curled in a dream goal from 35 metres on 75 minutes and followed that up a minute later with a superb strike to seal the victory.
   ‘He is an artist with a football,’ beamed general manager Uli Hoeness about the French star in his first season at Bayern after last summer’s 26 million euros transfer from Marseille.
   ‘Once again he has hit two great goals for us, what he does is just unbelievable.
   ‘You can congratulate us now on the championship, because no one can snatch the title away from us.’
   With four games left, a goal difference of 20 and a 12-point gap over nearest rivals Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen, even cautious coach Hitzfeld can afford to relax a little.
   ‘Nothing more can now happen to us, the only way we can lose the championship is if they suspend it,’ said Hitzfeld.
   ‘But nevertheless we still want a few more victories.
   ‘It is important the team keep their strong spirit and we are hoping to have a few more fresh players for next Saturday after this week’s UEFA Cup semi-final.’
   Hitzfeld had rested several players from Thursday’s UEFA Cup semi-final, first leg 1-1 draw against Zenit St Petersburg and Bayern now have a busy week ahead with the second leg in Russia on Thursday.
   And they could be crowned Bundesliga champions at VfL Wolfsburg next Sunday.
   Against Stuttgart, the home side took an early lead when Luca Toni bagged his 21st league goal of the season after a mistake in the Stuttgart defence allowed the Italian World Cup winner to hit the back of the net on eight minutes.
   But Stuttgart levelled when midfielder Antonio da Silva scored with a direct free-kick on 19 minutes, but Dutch hardman Mark Van Bommel curled his 55th minute free-kick around VfB Stuttgart’s defensive wall to put Bayern 2-1 ahead before Ribery made his entrance.
   The result knocks Stuttgart out of the top five - and a potential place in Europe next season - after Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday to go fourth in the table.

German international captain Michael Ballack believes Manchester United are showing signs of cracking up as the Premier League title race enters the final furlong.
   Ballack knows what it feels like to blow the advantage in a title fight after his time at Bayer Leverkusen. The German club let the pressure from Bayern Munich get to them in 2000 and lost the Bundesliga crown on the last day of the season.
   United have allowed Chelsea to draw level with them after losing 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and Ballack, the two-goal hero of that victory, feels their spluttering form is evidence Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are feeling the heat.
   ‘Manchester United still have everything in their hands but the pressure is on them,’ Ballack said. ‘It looked like they were champions, but now it’s getting smaller and tighter.
   ‘In 2000 I was in a similar situation at Leverkusen, but we were the ones leading and Bayern Munich caught us. In the last game we were three points in front, but lost the game and the title.
   ‘It can happen up to the last minute. The pressure is on them because last week they looked like they were the champions. They had a five-point lead and now we have closed the gap.’
   Chelsea have confounded critics who insisted they had no chance of catching United and Ballack is convinced Avram Grant’s team can go on to enjoy European, as well as domestic, success.
   The Blues face Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday in pole position to go through after their 1-1 draw at Anfield.
   ‘Nobody expected Chelsea to be in this position now or in the Champions League,’ Ballack said.
   ‘We are possibly just four games away from two big prizes and we have put ourselves in this situation. This is where we want to be. We like this situation. I think we look fresh and better than all other teams, even in the Champions League now.’
   With Frank Lampard absent as he mourns the death of his mother, Ballack took over penalty duties against United and kept his nerve to stroke home the winner after Michael Carrick handled.
   Ballack admitted that his cool finish was typical of the way Germany’s top players excel under the pressure of penalties.
   ‘I’m used to handling these situations. I took a lot of important penalties in my career and this was a big situation,’ he said. ‘It was no problem for me and I liked it. We have to be good at something at least!
   ‘Normally Frank is there to take the penalty. He is usually first having been here a long time and he is used to it. But I scored a few last year and we have a lot of good penalty takers.
   ‘It also depends how you feel at the time, how the game has been going for you and if you feel confident. I have missed a few in my career back in the Bundesliga, but they were not important games.’

Manchester United players have claimed that Chelsea ground staff were responsible for provoking the row that marred the end of the Premier League showdown between the two teams on Saturday by insulting Patrice Evra.
   Chelsea won a tense encounter at Stamford Bridge 2-1 with a late penalty strike from Michael Ballack and it was minutes after the final whistle blew when the brawl erupted.
   United stars substitutes Patrick Evra, Paul Scholes, John O’Shea, Gerard Pique and Gary Neville were taking part in a warm-down on the pitch when they were asked to move by ground staff.
   A scuffle erupted, in which fellow substitute Carlos Tevez also became embroiled.
   The Argentina striker said in The Guardian: ‘Patrice received a grave insult from a member of Chelsea’s staff.
   ‘He demanded an explanation and, from that moment, these men just wanted to attack Patrice.
   ‘Obviously it’s normal that we tried to defend our team-mate but within a few seconds all of the United players were surrounded by stewards.’
   Chelsea are to examine closed-circuit TV footage of the incident, which the English Football Association have asked to see before ‘considering the appropriate course of action.’
   Tevez said: ‘I think that the security cameras will show the provocation we received. I have never seen anything like this in my career... if the FA opens an investigation, we will cooperate and happily give our version of what happened.’
   Defender Pique added: ‘Basically, this came about because of the provocation of somebody who works for Chelsea.
   ‘Patrice wanted an explanation but these men were very aggressive. All we were doing was finishing our work-out after the game.
   ‘Even now, I just do not understand the reaction of these people. I have seen the photos and, if the images are stored in the CCTV cameras then it will be impossible for them to say that the players were not provoked.’
   Since confirming they would look into the incident, Chelsea have not commented on the matter but one of the men allegedly involved in the fracas, groundsman Sam Bethell, played it down.
   ‘It was handbags really,’ he said in The Sun. ‘It was not as bad as it appeared.
   ‘I’ve been told not to say anything about what actually happened.’
   Saturday’s referee, Alan Wiley, has confirmed he only became aware of the trouble when he watched highlights of the game later that evening.

Cheers!
   Who cares about the score, as long as there’s beer. At least that’s what Austrian brewers are thinking, as they predict record consumption during the championship. ‘If our team wins, Austrians will drink to celebrate, if it loses, they’ll drown their sorrows,’ says the head of the Brewers’ Association Markus Liebl. A classic win-win situation.
   
   Bad rep
   English fans are the most feared, followed by the Germans and the Turks, according to an Austrian poll. But with Steven Gerrard and Co. failing to qualify for the Euro, will dreaded English hooligans make the trip to Switzerland and Austria in June?
   
   No horsing around
   Crowds of foreign visitors usually mean good business for Vienna’s ‘Fiakers’. But drivers of the traditional horse-drawn carriages are up in arms as their usual stands on the Ring boulevard risk being moved to make space for the fan mile, diverting them from their favourite sightseeing route. The horses may enjoy the peace and quiet away from noisy football fans however.
   
   R & R
   If the football mania becomes too much and you need to get away, a spa and hotel in Laa an der Thaya, 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Vienna, is offering a completely football-free experience. Special offers are even planned for women wishing to escape their football-crazed other half.
   
   Fashion victim
   Swiss and Austrian designers have come up with dozens of Euro-inspired outfits under the tag ‘11metermode,’ or penalty fashion. These include a colourful flag pantsuit, referee-inspired black and white outfits, goalnet skirts and round football-like dresses. Maybe best not to wear them to the office.
   
   Food, glorious food
   Foodstands offering dishes from all around the continent will make sure foreign and domestic fans don’t go hungry while watching matches on the big screen on Vienna’s fan mile in June. On offer will be Austrian staples like Wienerschnitzel and Gulasch, Italian pizzas and pasta, French crepes, German Currywurst (sausage) and Croatian cevapcici. But will the menu change as teams are eliminated?
   — AFP

Iran could play friendly games for its World Cup campaign in the United States after receiving an invitation from the US football authorities, Iranian media reported on Monday.
   The invitation is for a ten day training camp based around Los Angeles and two possible friendly matches from June 23 to July 3, the state news agency IRNA reported.
   ‘We received the formal and written invitation from the US soccer federation Saturday evening’ the deputy head of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, was quoted as saying by student news agency ISNA.
   The proposed trip however remains subject to the approval of the government-run Physical Education Organisation and the Iranian foreign ministry, as well as new national coach Ali Daei.
   ‘If Daei agrees to the camp, the invitation will be sent to the overseas council of the PEO to receive the go-ahead for the trip,’ Taj said.
   The Team Melli’s most celebrated exploit of recent years was when it defeated the United States 2-1 in a thrilling encounter at the 1998 World Cup in France.
   However despite boasting a wealth of talent, Iran has made a lacklustre start to its qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, drawing games with lesser sides Syria and Kuwait.
   It is not clear what sides Tehran would play in the United States but IRNA said that possible opposition could include David Beckham’s side Los Angeles Galaxy.
   Iran and the United States have been politically at loggerheads since the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the pro-US shah.
   However visits by sporting delegations to the other country are not unknown.

Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic ahead of their clash with Barcelona after they missed training on Monday.
   The duo are struggling to shake off knocks they picked up in Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
   Vidic took a blow to his face during a clash with Didier Drogba and was forced to be stretchered off. Rooney’s injury is slightly more worrying after he aggravated a hip problem when falling awkwardly in the second half.
   The pair will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness as United are keen to have them available for the vital tie with Barcelona at Old Trafford.
   United boss Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful that they key duo will recover in time to face Barcelona as both sides battle for the right to play in the UEFA Champions League final.

Real Madrid were unable to clinch a 31st Spanish title on Sunday but their 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao means they can retain their crown with victory at Osasuna next weekend.
   Villarreal’s 1-0 win at Real Betis, courtesy of a wonder goal from Marcos Senna, denied Real the opportunity to be crowned champions and Bernd Schuster’s team must wait another week.
   Goals from Javier Saviola, who could be on his way out this summer, Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain gave Real the spoils against Bilbao but they were also indebted to goalkeeper Iker Casillas for a crucial first half penalty save.
   Real stay ten points ahead of Villarreal with just 12 points to play for and know that they will lift the championship with victory over Osasuna regardless of what Villarreal do.
   In fact a draw would be enough should Villarreal fail to beat Getafe.
   A chorus of ‘champions’ rang around the Santiago Bernabeu and the players hugged each other in the knowledge that the title is theirs.
   Manuel Pellegrini’s team guaranteed Champions League qualification with the Betis triumph and they are now four points ahead of third-placed Barcelona who lost 2-0 at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
   ‘It is our duty to keep second and ensure direct qualification to the Champions League,’ said Pellegrini.
   ‘It was important to open up the four point gap over Barcelona and we have to build on that against Getafe next weekend.’
   Senna’s strike – a late goal of the season contender – was worthy to win any game with the Spanish international lobbing the goalkeeper from 40 metres out.
   Valencia can breathe a little easier as caretaker coach Salvador ‘Voro’ Gonzalez guided the struggling giants closer to safety following a convincing 3-0 home win over Osasuna on Sunday.
   Valencia are one of the biggest clubs in Spain, winning domestic titles in 2002 and 2004 under Rafa Benitez, but are fighting relegation after one win in 10 games under ex-coach Roland Koeman.
   Koeman was sacked this week and the change worked with a David Villa penalty and further goals from Mata and Joaquin sealing three vital points as Valencia moved four points clear of the drop.
   ‘The team has eased the pressure but we have not achieved anything,’ said Voro.
   ‘This victory does not solve all our problems.’
   Racing Santander coach Marcelino is tipped to take over at Valencia next season and his team stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot despite a 3-1 loss at Real Mallorca.
   Racing are two points off the final Champions League place after Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 at neighbours Getafe.
   Getafe, conquerors of Real and Barca this season, went ahead through Juan Albin but Argentine Kun Aguero equalised for Atletico with his 17th goal of the season.
   ‘I don’t know if a point will be enough (for the Champions League) but we didn’t deserve more,’ said Atletico coach Javier Aguirre. ‘It is one more week out the way but we need to improve.’
   Atletico goalkeeper Leo Franco saved a late Ruben de la Red penalty as the capital side hold onto the final Champions League spot with four games left but Racing are just two points behind with Sevilla a further point back.
   Elsewhere Levante became the first team to be relegated from the Spanish top-flight after a 2-0 defeat against Recreativo Huelva.
   Levante players agreed to call off a strike over unpaid wages but they still fell to a defeat that seals their relegation.
   Barring a miracle Real Murcia are set to join Levante in the second division with the club ten points from safety with just 12 left to play for.
   Recreativo are now two points clear of the drop zone with Real Zaragoza currently occupying the final relegation spot after a 1-1 draw against Espanyol on Sunday.

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted as England’s Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for the second straight year.
   The 23-year-old Portuguese star, who has scored 38 goals in all competitions this season, beat Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and David James in the annual poll.
   Arsenal midfielder Fabregas was named Young Player of the Year.
   Although he did not attend the PFA’s awards ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House hotel late Sunday, Ronaldo was shown on screen accepting the trophy from his club boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
   Ronaldo and United are currently preparing for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Tuesday night with the sides level at 0-0.
   ‘I feel very happy. When you work all season to play good, to do something for the team, to do your contribution for the team and then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure,’ he said.
   ‘It is a great motivation to carry on like that, to work more and get better.
   ‘I feel very good but it is not just my award, my team-mates have helped me a lot this season.
   ‘They give me good passes to score goals, and I score, but it is a good moment for me.’
   In the voting for the young player award Spanish international Fabregas finishing ahead of Ronaldo.
   Torres, Micah Richards, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young had been the other nominees.
   ‘I’m very proud. It’s a very prestigious trophy,’ said Fabregas.
   ‘Football is a collective game and you prefer to win trophies with team-mates but it’s always nice to have this type of award.’
   Surprisingly there were no Chelsea players short-listed for the top awards, while big rivals on both the domestic and European fronts, Manchester United had three players involved -– Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
   Fabregas, Adebayor, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy all featured for Arsenal. Liverpool duo Gerrard and Torres were included, as was Portsmouth and England goalkeeper James and Aston Villa midfielder Young.
   Former England and Blackpool full-back Jimmy Armfield, 72, still involved in the game as a broadcaster, received the Merit award for his services to the game.
   PFA Premier League Team of the Year:
   David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard finally admitted that he expects his Brazilian superstar striker Ronaldinho to leave at the end of the season.
   Rijkaard was asked on the Catalan television station TV3 late on Sunday night whether Barca’s last home game of the season, against Real Mallorca on May 11, would be turned into a gala send off for Ronaldinho.
   ‘Yes, it could be then,’ conceded Rijkaard
   ‘I don’t want people to forget what he’s done for this club. I hope that he leaves with his head held high and that he demonstrates to the world of football just who he is,’ added the Dutch coach, who could be leaving as well.
   Ronaldinho is currently on the sidelines with a torn right hamstring sustained in training on April 4.
   The club originally said that he would be out for six weeks and indicated that the injury had ended his season but there is now the possibility that he could yet play a cameo role in one or two of Barcelona’s final games of this campaign.
   ‘He could yet play in the last game of the season in the Nou Camp (to say goodbye to the fans),’ confirmed Rijkaard.
   It has been an open secret that Ronaldinho, who was instrumental in Barcelona winning the 2005 and 2006 Spanish titles and the 2006 Champions League, would be leaving in the summer despite no-one publicly saying so.
   Last week, AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi admitted that his club had been negotiating with Barca for Ronaldinho’s signature but that the Catalan club’s initial asking price had been too high.
   ‘We still want him and we know he wants to come to Milan but Barcelona have asked for a sum we all consider excessive,’ Berlusconi told Italian radio station Radio Radio.
   ‘However, We are still looking to recruit him,’ added Berlusconi, who is also the Italian prime minister. Media reports in Italy and Spain suggest that Barcelona currently want 30 million euros for Roanldinho, who has another two years left on his contract, but Milan only want to pay around 16 million.
   Inter Milan and Manchester City are also interested in the player, directors at the latter club having admitted they have been talking to Ronaldinho’s representatives about a possible transfer.
   Ronaldinho had a stellar first three seasons at Barcelona after signing from French club Paris St Germain for 31 million euros in the summer of 2003.
   He deservedly picked up two consecutive World Player of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005 and rejuvenated a team that, prior to his arrival, had not won a trophy for four years.
   However, concerns about his discipline started to grow about 18 months ago with increasing rumours of his love for the night life and the visible evidence of an increasing waist line.
   This season several players, although none have named Ronaldinho specifically, have said that relations with his team mates have disintegrated and that a rift has developed in the dressing room between him and other players, like his fellow Brazilian Edmilson.
   There were also suggestions that he had fallen out with Rijkaard although the Dutchman denied on Sunday that there had been a breakdown in their relationship.
   ‘He’s a player who hasn’t been causing problems,’ said Rijkaard.
   Rijkaard’s next task is motivating his players ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg match against English Premier League leaders Manchester United today. The score strands at 0-0 after the first leg in Barcelona last Wednesday.
   ‘We are not afraid of United. We know how they play, they’ve got mental strength and talent. I think they’ll attack more than at Old Trafford than they did in the Nou Camp and that could give us some chances,’ added Rijkaard.
   The Champions league remains Barca’s last chance of getting some silverware this season as their 2-0 defeat in the Spanish league eliminated them from the title race.

Real Madrid’s German coach Bernd Schuster hopes he’ll be unable to uncork some champagne next weekend after the Spanish giants were denied the chance to clinch their 31st La Liga title on Sunday.
   Villarreal refused to lie down and conveniently present Real Madrid with the title earlier on Sunday and beat Real Betis 1-0 to retain a very slim interest in the Spanish title race.
   ‘I would have liked to have won the championship in front of our own fans. All our fans had high hopes that we could have done it tonight. It’s a pity but that the way it is,’ said Schuster.
   ‘What pleased me was the way the players responded. Just a few minutes before they went out on the pitch they knew that Villarreal had won, they knew they couldn’t win the title tonight and they could have relaxed and that would have been very dangerous.’
   ‘However, their attitude was perfect and the atmosphere in the stadium was perfect. We made a few defensive mistakes in the first half but we did some good work in the second half.’
   Real went ahead from Javier Saviola midway through the first half but Athletic constantly threatened to equalise until the introduction after 71 minutes of Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain.
   The introduction of new blood helped Real take control and both second-half substitutes got late goals.
   ‘The tragedy is that after this win we can’t celebrate with all our fans tonight,’ added Schuster.
   Real’s win 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao kept their advantage at the top of the Spanish first division at 10 points with four games to play.
   The victory over the Basques means that Real’s destiny is in their hands but they have to win at a notoriously hostile Osasuna next Sunday.
   ‘I would have preferred not to win the title in another stadium but I also want to win the championship as quickly as possible,’ said Schuster.
   ‘Osasuna historically has not been an easy ground for Real Madrid but I’m not worried because now everything depends on us and we have a game at home after that.’
   Schuster, and every other Real fan, knows that the next home game is against bitter rivals Barcelona on May 7.
   One way or another Real are likely to be able to make Barca suffer when they visit the Santiago Bernabeu.
   If Real clinch the title in Osasuna, by no means a certain thing as they are battling to avoid getting dragged into the relegation battle, protocol dictates that the Barcelona players from a guard of honour as Real come on the pitch.
   On the other hand, if the title eludes them again in Osasuna’s intimidating and claustrophobic Reyno de Navarra stadium, then Real could and should win the title against their oldest enemy.

AS Roma kept the Serie A title race alive for another week at least with a four-goal destruction of sorry Torino at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday as Italy’s top flight went goal crazy.
   Roma’s 4-1 victory meant that leaders Inter Milan, who beat lowly Cagliari 2-1, can secure their third straight scudetto crown if they beat AC Milan in next weekend’s Milanese derby.
   Inter coach Roberto Mancini was trying not to concentrate on winning the title against their city rivals, though. ‘I’m not thinking about when we win it, just doing so,’ he said. ‘If it’s against Milan that’s good, if not it could be one of the next two weekends.’
   Roma coach Luciano Spalletti refused to give up hope, despite his team’s near impossible task.
   ‘We have to keep winning and as long as it’s still mathematically possible, we have to keep believing.’ Milan kept their Champions League hopes alive as they cantered to a 4-1 demolition of rock-bottom Livorno while Fiorentina conceded a goal deep into injury time to draw 2-2 at home to Sampdoria.
   That cut Milan’s deficit to Fiorentina in the race for fourth place to just two points with three matches to play.
   ‘Certainly that result has given us a helping hand because qualifying for the Champions League does not just depend on us,’ said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.
   Juventus ensured they will play in Europe’s premier competition next season as they thrashed Lazio 5-2. The match in Rome was over after a little more than half an hour as Torino’s porous defence disintegrated.
   The first came courtesy of a generously-awarded penalty for a non-existent foul on Simone Perrotta, with Chile international David Pizarro stepping up to score from 12 yards on 18 minutes.
   Two minutes later Macedonia forward Mirko Vucinic slotted home a Perrotta pass from a tight angle, although goalkeeper Alberto Fontana should have done better. A few minutes later and Brazilian Alessandro Mancini managed to head home a deep right-wing cross from compatriot Cicinho from inside the six yard box, although Torino should never have allowed the ball to travel that far.
   Mancini then added the fourth on 32 minutes, tapping home from close range after more inept defending. Nicola Ventola scored a second half consolation for the visitors. In Milan Inter survived an early scare after their defence parted like the biblical seas to present Alessandro Matri with a great chance but he shot wide.
   On 22 minutes Argentine striker Julio Cruz headed home a cross from France captain Patrick Vieira. Marco Materazzi headed home a corner late on before a last minute goal from Davide Biondini gave Cagliari something to cheer. In Livorno Filippo Inzaghi poached a goal from close range on 23 minutes, although there was a strong suspicion of offside when he converted Kaka’s pass following good work from Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf.
   Two headers gave Inzaghi his hat-trick before veteran Dutch midfielder Seedorf scored a fourth and Dario Knezevic gave the hosts a consolation.
   Fiorentina fell behind to a goal from Cristian Maggio in the second half but Cristian Vieri equalised and Adrian Mutu gave the hosts the lead from the spot.
   However Daniele Gastaldello struck three minutes into stoppage time to salvage a point for Samp and dent La Viola’s Champions League hopes.
   In Turin Giorgio Chiellini gave Juve an early lead with a header before goals from Mauro Camoranesi, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet put the hosts into an unassailable 4-0 lead after just 34 minutes.
   Lazio hit back after the break as goals from Rolando Bianchi and Sebastiano Siviglia reduced the deficit before Chiellini bundled home his second late on.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed the continuing impact of veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi as the reigning European champions closed in on fourth place in Serie A.
   Inzaghi bagged a poacher’s hat-trick as Milan won 4-1 at rock-bottom Livorno to move within two points of Fiorentina in the crucial final Champions League qualifying position. But it was Inzaghi’s striking instincts which proved invaluable to Ancelotti’s team.
   He tapped home a first-half opener from Kaka’s square pass in the box, despite looking suspiciously offside, and then added two close range headers after the break. Inzaghi’s recent return to form and fitness has coincided with Milan’s late season charge for a place in Europe’s premier competition next year.
   ‘I don’t want to talk about the past but often we forget that Inzaghi missed three months due to injury but when he has played from the start he’s scored 16 goals in as many matches.
   ‘He, like Kaka, is in great form. Right now they’re forming a formidable partnership.’
   With former three-time world player of the year Ronaldo sidelined with a long-term knee injury, teenage forward Pato feeling the strains of a tough introduction to European football and Alberto Gilardino short of form, Inzaghi’s contribution has been vital.
   With just two points to make up on Fiorentina and two home matches left to just one for the Florence-based club, Milan could even consider themselves favourties to snatch fourth spot.
   The biggest drawback for them is that they have to play the Milan derby against Inter next weekend, with their cross city rivals looking to sew up the Serie A title.
   ‘Both teams are looking to succeed with their primary objectives,’ Ancelotti said about the crunch clash. ‘It’s normal that Inter will want to win on Sunday but also we’ll be giving it our all.’

World Player of the Year Kaka predicted on Sunday that he would reach his peak in time for the 2010 World Cup.
   In an interview with the Brazilian sports daily Lance, the AC Milan and Brazil player reaffirmed his wish to play at the Olympic Games in August but admitted the matter was out of his hands.
   ‘I think the best is yet to come,’ said Kaka, who has suffered a dip in form this year.
   ‘The year 2007 was marvellous but I still think I can improve technically and physically.
   ‘I want to reach a very high level (for the 2010 World Cup). I will be 28, at my peak. It could be a great World Cup for Brazil, a new cycle and new players.’
   Kaka has had some fitness problems recently, which he blamed on too much football.
   ‘The biggest problem with injuries, today, is the quantity of games,’ he said. ‘There comes a time when your body can’t take any more.’
   The 26-year-old said he wanted to help Brazil win their first Olympic Gold medal in Beijing. The Olympic soccer tournament is for under-23 teams but three over-age players are allowed.
   ‘Nobody has won the Olympic gold (for Brazil) yet, that’s the big motivation,’ he said. ‘But, how I get to the Olympics is something which does not depend on me.’
   He was unsure if he would still be playing international football when Brazil host the World Cup in 2014.
   ‘I don’t know if I will be there,’ he said.
   ‘It depends on how I am physically, if I am still in condition to play football at a high level, with the right motivation to play a World Cup.
   Kaka would relish the prospect of playing alongside international team-mate Ronaldinho at AC Milan next season.
   He would add to a growing list of Brazilians already with the Serie A giants.
   And Kaka believes the influence of compatriots Dida, Cafu, Serginho, Digao, Alexandre Pato and Ronaldo would help Ronaldinho settle in no time at all.
   He told: ‘He has not forgotten how to play football. He is not having a good time at Barcelona for different reasons that are not easy to talk about, as we are not with him every day.
   ‘If he comes here to Milan, it will be a great signing for the club. He will be welcomed. The Brazilians here will help him a lot.’
   Kaka also had words of comfort for injured team-mate Ronaldo, who was sidelined until at least November with a knee injury with doubts raised over whether he will play again.
   He said: ‘Ronaldo has always been an example of recovery because of all he has suffered. I think he will prove it again. His will is an example.
   ‘Ronaldo will be back. I do not know if he will do it in Europe, but I am sure he will play again.’

y’s Milan derby will be bigger than Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti claimed on Monday that Sunda the Champions League final.
   Inter can win the Serie A crown with victory in the match while AC Milan are desperate for the three points as they chase fourth spot and a place in next season’s Champions League.
   ‘In a way it’s worth more than a Champions League final because this match is vital for both teams to achieve their objectives,’ said Moratti.
   ‘All derbies are great matches and each one has it’s own importance because there is an issue of revenge from the previous one or because the fans care more about it.
   ‘But this one has a special significance and it’s difficult to find a similar match in history.’
   Moratti denied, though, that he would get extra satisfaction from sealing the title during the Milan derby rather than in one of Inter’s other two remaining games.
   ‘You can’t say you’d prefer to win it in one match or another,’ he added. ‘We just have to try to win it and whatever happens, will happen.
   ‘It’s clear that we’ll give it everything when we play, whether in the derby or in the next matches.’