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Dhaka Abahani will be looking to start their AFC President’s Cup campaign with a win when they take on Sri Lanka Army team in the inaugural match of Group B at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 6:00pm today.
   Sri Lanka Army, playing for the first time in any AFC affiliated competition, however, vowed to fight hard in their quest for a victory. But they admitted Abahani are favourites in the match. A win is very important for both the teams as they have to play higher ranked Ashgabat in their next encounters.
   Abahani will be trying not to repeat the mistakes they made in the last edition of the AFC President’s Cup when they lost to Nepal and Regar Tadaz. Playing on home ground will be an added advantage for Abahani.
   Experience can make the difference in the match. Abahani’s local and foreign recruits have been together for more than two years and they are raring to go.
   National keeper Biplob is the reliable name of Abahani while defenders Wali Faisal and Nazrul, midfielders Zahed Parvez Chowdhury and Abul will be threatening for the opponents. The Ghanaian duo – defender Samad Yousif and forward Awudu Ibrahim – will be leading Abahani’s defence and attacks. Emily is expected to take to the field after being sidelined with a hamstring injury for the last two months.
   Abahani manger, Satyajit Das Rupu, however, was respectful of their opponents. ‘I don’t want to lose the battle by being overconfident, we are determined to win the match.
   ‘We are ready to face the challenge and definitely Ashgabat are a stronger side than the Sri Lankan Army. The match will give us the opportunity to hone our skills before taking on the Turkmenistan champions,’ said Rupu.
   The Sri Lankan outfit got a chance to adapt to the new conditions as they practised at the match venue on Monday. The coach, Major S Pathmanathan, was ready to put up a fight with all of his resources.
   ‘We are newcomers here but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the will to win. Abahani are a strong team but my team will be ready to take up the challenge,’ said the coach.
   MNM Ishadeen, the ace forward, will be the key man in the Sri Lanka Army attack while defender KWS Danushka Wijesiri will be the man in charge to protect the fort.
   Centre-forward KPJD Perera and midfielder SM Fawmy are the other two dependable names in the Sri Lanka Army outfit.

The IPL is overtly biased towards left-handers. While southpaws Shaun Marsh and Gautam Gambhir were the top-run getters in the first edition, left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir topped the wicket-takers’ list.
   The trend hasn’t changed, rather it’s become more prominent. With the tournament reaching its homestretch, the left-handers are on a roll. Till Sunday, left-handers occupied the top four spots among batsmen, and the bowlers were equally impressive, occupying three of the top four slots.
   HT takes a look at the success stories.
   Batsmen
   Matthew Hayden
   The top run-getter, the giant Aussie is doing what he does best — terrorise the bowlers. Hayden has been in amazing form and has given the Chennai Super Kings a flying start in almost every game. “I am still in top shape and this format suits my style of play. It will be tough to beat us if we continue to play the way we are doing,” he said.
   Yuvraj Singh
   The Kings XI skipper is coming into his own as the tournament reaches the business end. However, his knocks have failed to see his team home, as is otherwise often the case. For instance, he struck a fine half-century and took a hattrick against the RCB, but the team still lost.
   Suresh Raina
   He came of age in the inaugural edition and the honeymoon continues. Along with some scintillating knocks, Raina, the second highest run-getter, has turned a few games around for the CSK with his fielding and off-spin. “He has developed lot of power in his strokes and has become strong mentally as well,” said Hayden.
   Adam Gilchrist
   He has been as destructive as his former opening partner Hayden. The blazing starts have more often than not translated into victories for the Deccan Chargers. Besides, effecting the maximum dismissals behind the wicket, we all know what he has done to the side with his captaincy.
   Bowlers
   RP Singh
   The revelation of the tournament, he has been difficult to score off and has also been among wickets. Formed a potent new-ball pair with Fidel Edwards and has carried on in the same vein after Edwards’ departure. Who says fast bowlers hunt only in pairs.
   Yusuf Abdulla
   A last-minute selection, he has been the dark horse. The burly South African stepped in effortlessly into the big shoes of Brett Lee and Jerome Taylor and held the injury-hit Kings XI attack together.
   Ashish Nehra
   Trading Shikhar Dhawan for Ashish Nehra has turned out to be a masterstroke for the Delhi Daredevils. The seamer has managed to keep injuries at bay and has played a crucial role in the team’s success.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL semi-final hopes lay in tatters but skipper Brendon McCullum is mum on his decision to quit captaincy.
   ‘At the moment, all that I am focusing on is the next few games. Trying to do whatever I can, try as hard as I well possibly can to get something going,’ McCullum said after the team slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against the Delhi Daredevils here on Sunday.
   McCullum had earlier decided to step down from the captain’s job if the team missed the semifinal berth but the Kiwi didn’t give a straight answer when asked if he was going to quit any time soon.
   ‘I know I mentioned that a couple of games ago and that is something that I have got to look at. I’ll
   work out with the coaching staff next year, what the goal is.’
   ‘But whatever happens I will be totally committed to Kolkata Knight Riders and helping to get us get some results in the future that we all are immensely proud of,’ he said.
   Looking back at the team’s wretched run in the tournament, McCullum felt it was a combination of bad luck and poor execution that did the side in.
   ‘A bit of both. When things are going for you, you get the luck. Things obviously aren’t going for us at the moment.
   And we are not getting the luck go our way,’ McCullum said.
   Asked to pinpoint reasons behind the team’s spectacular slide, McCullum said, ‘It’s hard to put your finger (on any one thing). We haven’t played consistently well across the board during each game.’
   ‘We get our batting going well and our bowling and fielding let us down. We get our bowling going well and our batting lets us down. We are not consistent across all the areas of the game,’ he said.
   McCullum, however, had no complaint against any individual.
   ‘This is certainly not because of lack of trying, guys out there are trying as hard as we possibly can. Unfortunately things aren’t going our way,’ he said.
   ‘The way we played tonight, that makes me very proud to be a captain. You walk off with smile on your face and positive body language because you know that you have had a team that had given everything that they possibly had,’ he added.

A Pakistan committee investigating the Dubai detention of Mohammad Asif on charges of possessing illegal drugs ordered the fast bowler Monday to appear before its panel on June 1.
   The 27-year-old paceman was stopped at Dubai airport on June 1, 2008 found in possession of 0.24 grams of opium while he was travelling back to Pakistan after playing in the Indian Premier League.
   He was detained for 19 days before being deported after Dubai police determined that the quantity of drug was insufficient to make a case.
   The Pakistan Cricket Board formed a three-member committee to probe the case before deciding whether to select the paceman for the national team.
   The committee, headed by former captain Wasim Bari, warned Asif to attend on June 1 despite flouting PCB regulations by flying to Britain, where he is playing in club cricket, without giving prior notice.
   The committee wants proof to back up Asif’s claims that he was not deported.
   ‘Asif told us verbally that he can enter the UAE, but we need a document to back up his claim,’ Bari said.
   If Asif fails to appear before the committee, the committee is likely to fine him heavily.
   The IPL slapped Asif with a one-year ban after he tested positive for nandrolone. His ban expires in September this year.
   The PCB also tested him positive for nandrolone in 2006. He was banned for one year and pace partner Shoaib Akhtar for two years. Those bans were overturned on appeal.

Kamran Khan, the new star on the block, is back in Mumbai. Kamran landed in the city on the wee hours of Sunday. A few hours later he was at the Prabodhan Ground in Goregaon. Kamran’s rise to fame during IPL is well documented.
   Shane Warne’s ‘Tornado’ caught the attention of the media when the Rajasthan Royals skipper marked him out as special. But a knee injury laid him low and when his action was termed as ‘suspect’ Kamran’s fairytale ended, at least for this season. On Sunday, Kamran watched the finals of the Prabodhan Mumbai T20 series and his presence didn’t go unnoticed.
   With a little lobbying on the part of his coach Naushad Khan, the officials announced on the loudspeaker that Kamran was at the game. After the prize distribution ceremony Kamran was presented with a bouquet. For someone who toiled hard in the maidans of Mumbai and went rather unnoticed, the acknowledgement of his presence was a reflection of how famous Kamran is now. However, he will have to be satisfied by watching the rest of the IPL on television.
   ‘They (Rajasthan management) suggested that travelling in South Africa with an injury would only aggravate it. So I have come back and will undergo scans and await their reports,’ said the 18-year-old, elaborating on the status of his knee injury.
   In his second match against Kolkata Knight Riders, one in which he took 3 for 18 and bowled the last over and the Super Over, Kamran came to the party. ‘After that game I felt like I finally repaid the faith Warne had in me,’ Khan said on Sunday.
   Talking about how he felt before bowling the last over and the Super Over, Kamran said: ‘When a man of Shane Warne’s calibre comes and tells you that he believes in your strengths, the match situation and the opposition don’t matter,’ Kamran said.
   Surprisingly, the left-arm medium-pacer hasn’t yet been guided on what needs to be done to rectify his action. ‘I haven’t been asked to make any changes. I’ll be back once I recover from my injury,’ Kamran said.
   Coach Naushad said that it would take Kamran at least a month to recover from the injury. After consulting doctors Kamran will head back to Azamgarh.

Mohammedan Sporting Club clinched the title of the Women’s Club Cup Tournament defeating Ansar and VDP by five wickets in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
   Mohammedan bowled out Ansar for a paltry 123 runs in 35 overs and later scored 127 for five in 34 overs. Shuktara of Mohammedan was adjudged as the player of the match for her four-wicket haul for 29 runs and contributing 17 as an opener.
   Opting to bat first, Ansar were in trouble after losing six wickets for 88 runs with one-down Panna Ghosh scoring 44 and Reshma Akhter adding 23. Eti Mondal of Mohammedan grabbed two wickets for 22 runs.
   Shuktara and Shaila provided Mohammedan a fine start with Shaila scoring 24. Skipper Salma Khatun made sure that the team stay on the track with an unbeaten 28 and Tahera chipped in with 13.
   Panna Ghosh and Shuktara were named the players of the tournament.

Bangladesh officially expressed their intention to hold the next edition of SAFF Championships in Dhaka in December this year. BFF president Kazi Salahuddin revealed the fact on Monday.
   Salahuddin, who arrived in Dhaka on Monday after attending the AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur, said the BFF looks forward to hosting the top tournament of the sub-continent. ‘We have submitted our bid for hosting the SAAF Championships, we will try hard to win the bid and we also need the government’s support to host the showcase event,’ said Salahuddin.
   The BFF president said the participation in the AFC Congress was a new experience for him.

Bangladesh suffered a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of hosts Malaysia in their second game of the Asia Cup Hockey at Kuantan in Malaysia on Monday.
   Midfielder Jahidul Islam Rajon scored the lone goal for Bangladesh.
   In the first match, Bangladesh conceded a 5-0 defeat to Japan and they face Asian powerhouse South Korea in the last group match today.

Bangladesh Volleyball Federation ‘A’ team defeated India ‘B’ by 2-1 sets on the second day of the 2nd Asian Beach Volleyball Tournament 2009 at Laboni point on the Cox’s Bazar sea beach.
   In the men’s event, Sri Lanka ‘B’ beat Bangladesh Power Development Board by 2-0 sets, Australia beat India ‘B’ 2-1 and Sri Lanka ‘B’ won 2-0 over Nepal ‘A’.
   In the women’s section, Thailand beat Bangladesh SNT by 2-0 sets, China beat Nepal by the same margin, India beat Bangladesh SNT 2-0 and Nepal defeated Bangladesh Ansar by 2-0 sets.

The BCB National Cricket Academy team were struggling at 118 for six at the end of the second day’s play against the visiting Sri Lanka Development Squad at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium on Monday.
   After resuming at 306-3 the visitors were all out for 423 in 128.1 overs. G Rupasinghe scored 94 off 121 balls with nine boundaries and four sixes. M Siriwardana made 30 while M Pushpakumara contributed a gutsy 51 batting at number seven. Saqlain Sajib was the pick of the BCB Academy bowlers taking five wickets for 97 runs. Farhad Hossain scalped two wickets for 91 runs.
   BCB Academy had the worst start after losing opener Nasiruddin Faruque for a duck and a middle- collapse threw them into a difficult situation. Opener Jahirul Islam tried hard to hold one end with a fighting 32 off 89 balls and one-down Shahagir Hossain played a vital 31-run innings. Farhad Hossain was batting on 13 with Arafat Salahuddin on 18 and they succeeded in containing the Sri Lankan onslaughts at the end of the day.
   Suraj Mohammed was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with two for 38. BCB Academy still need to score 105 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Only in the infant stages of his international career, South African left-arm fast bowler Yusuf Abdulla has praised the IPL as a great launch pad. Abdulla, who made his Twenty 20 debut against Australia earlier this year, was rewarded for his outstanding performances in the domestic tournament and for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL with a call-up for the World Twenty20 beginning on June 5 in England.
   ‘I believe in learning wherever I go and the IPL is a good learning curve,’ he told SuperCricket. ‘It would have been hard to make a squad of 15 otherwise; the IPL has helped, it has shown I’m capable of performing at a higher level.
   ‘I was very excited when I heard I had been chosen for the Twenty20 World Cup and it’s definitely still sinking in. It’s a big achievement for me and I can only think the selectors were looking at me in the IPL because I have not played much international cricket, basically just my debut.’
   Abdulla, 26, is currently the IPL’s joint second highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in nine matches. He was called up after West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor was ruled out with injury. Punjab owner Ness Wadia cited Abdulla’s knowledge of his home ground Kingsmead - where the team play six games - as ‘critical’ to success in the IPL’s second season.
   After two average games, Abdulla notched up figures of 4 for 31 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, among them the wickets of Kevin Pietersen and Jacques Kallis.
   His return of 3 for 21 against the Rajasthan Royals made him one of the top five leading wicket-takers in the tournament.
   Abdulla said support from his seniors helped him ease into a team of superstars. ‘The IPL is a big world event and there are a lot of international stars playing, so the level is very high.
   There were a bit of nerves before my first game,’ he said. ‘I’ve learnt to back myself and the team has really backed me as well. Yuvraj [Singh] is a heck of a good guy and all the stars have been very welcoming. It’s great to have players like that around because it has made it much easier for me. I can rely on their advice and experience.
   ‘It’s been a big step and it hasn’t been easy because the margin for error at this level is very small.’

Wolfsburg midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic says the Bundesliga leaders must avenge their shock defeat in Stuttgart to get their title push back on track when they welcome Borussia Dortmund today.
   Wolfsburg went into last weekend three points clear at the top of the German league, but after Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez hit all four goals in Saturday’s 4-1 rout, Wolfsburg only lead now by virtue of goal difference.
   Only two points separate leaders Wolfsburg and fourth-placed Stuttgart with Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin also within touching distance of the lead.
   Wolfsburg take on Borussia Dortmund who have made a late bid for the title and a place in Europe next season with seven consecutive wins to go fifth in the table.
   ‘We played poorly right from the outset against Stuttgart and you could even see that from our body language,’ said Wolfsburg playmaker Misimovic who has helped strikers Grafite and Edin Dzeko score 43 goals between them this season.
   ‘On Tuesday against Dortmund, we’ll have the opportunity to put this bitter defeat behind us.’
   Defending champions Bayern Munich are now level on points with Wolfsburg and only stay second by virtue of an inferior goal difference with three games remaining.
   Having won 3-1 at Energie Cottbus last Saturday, Bayern’s caretaker coach Jupp Heynckes wants three more points at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen to keep the pressure on Wolfsburg.
   ‘We need to think about Leverkusen now and not about anything else,’ said Heynckes who is in charge only until the end of the season while a replacement is sought for sacked coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
   ‘We played well against Cottbus, but in my opinion, if we’d been on really top form, we’d have won 6-1. We should have scored more goals.
   ‘It’s very important not just to play convincingly, but also to put away the chances we create, and there were plenty.’
   Third-placed Hertha Berlin are just a point behind leaders Wolfsburg and they want three more points to stake their claim for the title when they travel to strugglers Cologne.
   ‘Now we have to remain focused for our trip to Cologne,’ said Hertha coach Lucien Favre after strikers Marko Pantelic and Raffael sealed a 2-0 win over Bochum last Saturday at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
   ‘It was a very difficult game, Bochum worked with five defenders at times, and we failed to find a way through at first.

The Delhi Daredevils bowlers paved the way for a seven-wicket Indian Premier League thumping of strugglers Kolkata Knight Riders Sunday as they reclaimed top spot in the table.
   Kolkata were restricted to 123-8 at chilly Wanderers after they lost the toss and were sent in to bat and Delhi cruised home, reaching 125-3 with 17 balls to spare.
   Openers David Warner, who made 36 off 23 balls, and 18-run Gautam Gambhir got Delhi off to a good start in the chase with a 53-run first-wicket partnership.

An Indian man angered by his son’s refusal to switch off the television during a cricket match allegedly stabbed him to death, a report said Monday.
   The accused, Meghnath Kamble, killed his 24-year-old son Sandesh on Sunday night when he insisted on watching a 20X20 match of the Indian Premier League at his home in Mumbai, the Press Trust of India quoted police as saying.
   ‘Kamble asked his son to switch off the television as he was tired and wanted to rest but Sandesh refused after which Kamble shouted at him and warned him,’ a Mumbai officer said.
   The man lost his temper when his son kept on watching the match, which is being played in South Africa, the Press Trust of India reported.
   ‘Furious, Kamble went to the kitchen and returned with a knife. He then stabbed his son on the chest,’ the officer said, adding that the accused was now in custody.
   The tournament, which began on April 18, is due to end on May 24.

Barcelona must wait another week to clinch the Spanish title after Jose Llorente scored a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser as Villarreal gatecrashed the party with a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou on Sunday.
   Barcelona were on course to win their 19th title in front of their fans when they held a 3-1 lead, but Villarreal scored twice in the final 12 minutes to put the celebrations on hold.
   Barcelona need just one point from the final three matches, with the next league match at Real Mallorca, to win their first league title since 2006.
   Real Madrid’s 3-0 defeat at Valencia on Saturday meant Barcelona could have won the title in front of their own fans and they came so close.
   ‘It is a real shame we couldn’t celebrate the title with all the people who came to the stadium today,’ admitted Barca coach Pep Guardiola.
   ‘We did the same thing (scoring a late goal) at Stamford Bridge (in the Champions League semi-final) with (Andres) Iniesta and today it was Llorente.
   ‘We have to pick ourselves up quickly, put a smile on our faces and prepare for the Kings Cup final on Wednesday.’
   A 28th goal of the season from Samuel Eto’o and a Dani Alves free-kick built on Seydou Keita’s opener as Barcelona held a 3-1 advantage at half-time.
   However, Eric Abidal was sent off for Barcelona late on after conceding a penalty which Matias Fernandez converted and the hosts were hit with the sucker punch in stoppage time as Llorente scored his second goal.
   Barcelona fans were understandably disappointed and must now wait for the title while the players need to concentrate on Wednesday’s Kings Cup final against Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla Stadium.
   Andres Iniesta will miss the game after suffering an injury to his right thigh and Barcelona will hope it is not serious enough to rule him out of the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27.
   The Barca players were on a high after thumping Real 6-2 last Saturday and then edging past Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final and Guardiola resisted the temptation to rest stars for the domestic cup final.
   Barca got off to a flying start when Keita saw his deflected shot loop in on 12 minutes.
   Villarreal, still without injured captain Marcos Senna, equalised through Llorente on 22 minutes after Yaya Toure lost possession.
   Eto’o restored Barcelona’s lead after 36 minutes and Alves, suspended for the Champions League final, curled in a free-kick seconds before half-time to make it 3-1.
   Frenchman Abidal was sent off for the second time in a week, after being dismissed against Chelsea, for giving away a spot-kick and Fernandez converted to ensure a tense final 12 minutes.
   Llorente then took advantage of the nerves to equalise and spoil the party. Barca now have 103 goals for the season and are just four from equalling Real’s all-time record of 107 set back in 1990.
   The champions-elect have amassed 86 points and have three games to try to overtake Real’s all-time points record of 92 set back in 1997, although there were 42 games then instead of the current 38.
   For Villarreal the point leaves them three points adrift of fourth-placed Valencia in the Champions League race.
   Atletico Madrid moved a point behind Valencia with a 3-2 comeback win over Espanyol with Villarreal old boy Diego Forlan scoring a sensational 90th minute winner.
   Atletico had been reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of Luis Perea and trailed 2-0, but came storming back with Kun Aguero scoring and Forlan grabbing a brace to take his season’s tally to 27 - just one behind Eto’o.
   ‘We are always capable of scoring goals,’ said Forlan. ‘Our destiny is in our own hands but that is also the case with Valencia.’
   Valencia and Atletico face each other next weekend at the Vicente Calderon in a Champions League decider.
   Espanyol saw their run of four straight wins come to an end and they are not safe yet lying four points above the drop zone.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to discuss the future of Carlos Tevez after the Argentina striker scored to leave his club on the brink of the title.
   Tevez has grown increasingly frustrated at failing to secure a regular starting place in Ferguson’s plans and has indicated he could leave Old Trafford when his two-year loan expires in the summer.
   The South American celebrated his goal in the 2-0 derby win over Manchester City by running to the main stand, close to where Ferguson was seated, and cupping his ears as the crowd chanted: ‘Fergie, Fergie sign him up.’
   Yet the United manager refused to go into detail about the future of the player, who has now scored 14 times this season.
   He insisted he had no problem with the way Tevez celebrated but when asked when there would be clarification about Tevez’s future, Ferguson snapped: ‘I’m not going into that at all.’
   Later he added: ‘Nothing has changed. He’s a Manchester United player. The fans love him because they love triers.
   ‘When players try then fans will always take to that. As long as he keeps scoring, I’ll have no problems with that.’
   Cristiano Ronaldo set United on their way to a sixth successvie league win by opening the scoring with another spectacular free-kick before Tevez’s effort on the stroke of half time.
   Yet Ronaldo looked unhappy when he was substituted in the second half, the Portugal winger still shaking his head long after leaving the field.
   Ferguson refused to criticise the player for his public display of petulance.
   ‘You know what he’s like - he wanted to stay on,’ added Ferguson. ‘He’s in great form but I’m looking at the bigger picture. It was an incredible performance from him last Tuesday at Arsenal in the Champions League.’ United can clinch a record-equalling 18th title at home to Arsenal next Saturday.
   They require four points from the remaining three games away to mid-table Wigan, where they won the league last season, on Wednesday, Arsenal and then away to struggling Hull on May 24.
   But Ferguson is refusing to take anything for granted after his side restored their three-point advantage over Liverpool at the top of the table. ‘Wigan will be a hard game,’ said Ferguson. ‘We’ve only got three days to prepare. We’ll freshen the team up again.
   The United boss opted against risking Rio Ferdinand after the England defender suffered a calf injury on the eve of the match.
   But Ferguson confirmed that the injury was not serious and that the player could be back at Wigan.
   ‘I rested two or three players today and maybe bring Rio Ferdinand back,’ said Ferguson.
   ‘We’ll make two or three changes because we need to do that. I’ve got a big squad so I’m going to use it.’

Spanish flops Real Madrid face a bruising summer of change as they seek to build a team capable of playing great football and competing against Europe’s elite.
   Real have won the European Cup a record nine times but they have been off the pace in recent years, failing to get past the quarter-finals of the competition since 2004.
   After back-to-back league titles they are now set to lose the crown to Barcelona, who are just one point from being crowned champions, and it is time for a rethink at Real.
   The presidential elections are scheduled to take place on June 14 and if former president Florentino Perez is elected a summer spending spree is expected.
   The Dutch trio of Roysten Drenthe, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder have all failed to settle and look likely to be first through the exit door.
   Fabio Cannavaro is set to return to Italy with Juventus and with captain Raul, 31, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, 32, nearing the end of their careers, fresh faces are desperately needed.
   Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Silva and David Villa have all been linked with big-money moves.
   Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes the club would be better off signing Spanish players.
   ‘I know Cesc (Fabrgeas) and that is why I would prefer him over Kaka and it is the same with (David) Villa and Cristiano (Ronaldo),’ Casillas told television channel Telemadrid.
   Real legend Zinedine Zidane advised his old club to follow the Barcelona blueprint of bringing promising players through the youth system as Real once did with the likes of Casillas, Raul and Guti.
   ‘Real Madrid should abandon the idea of signing foreign players and look at Barca, their footballing culture as well as their cantera (youth system),’ Zidane told Canal Plus.
   ‘They have players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta who can all do things with the ball and you are incapable of stopping them - even on PlayStation.
   ‘Madrid need to rediscover this identity with a necessary clear-out and they need to do it urgently.’
   While Barcelona have recently unearthed gems like Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkic and Sergi Busquets the production line appears to have grind to a halt at Madrid.
   Alvaro Negredo, 23, is one player Real let go to Almeria although they have a buyback option and may use it with Negredo scoring 19 goals this season.
   ‘If I’m going to be the fifth striker at Madrid, the option of returning will be ruled out,’ explained Negredo.
   ‘I have to think long and hard because my future depends on this. What I want to do now is to play, to have minutes.’
   It is unclear whether current coach Juande Ramos, who only had a six-month contract, will be the one to make such decisions or whether the club will opt for another coach with AC Milan boss Carlos Ancelotti one name mentioned.
   Ramos did well to get Real back in the title race with an 18-game unbeaten run but he and his team came up short in the big games as they lost twice to Barcelona (2-0 and 6-2) and Liverpool (1-0 and 4-0) in the league and Champions League respectively.
   On Saturday they were well beaten 3-0 by Valencia as Real waved the white flag and Ramos possibly did as well.

Chelsea found the perfect cure for their European misery as the Blues won 4-1 against Arsenal on Sunday to guarantee a top-three finish in the Premier League.
   Guus Hiddink’s side arrived at the Emirates Stadium still smarting from their controversial Champions League exit to Barcelona, but first half goals from Alex and Nicolas Anelka followed by a Kolo Toure own-goal and Florent Malouda’s late effort helped salve the wounds from Wednesday’s defeat.
   Although Chelsea’s biggest league victory at Arsenal since 1970 mathematically keeps their title challenge alive, more importantly it seals a place in next season’s Champions League group stages and condemns Arsenal to fourth place and the pressure of a qualifier, potentially against a formidable opponent from Italy, Spain or Germany.
   Nicklas Bendtner got one back for Arsenal but defeat capped a miserable week for Arsene Wenger’s team, who lost their 21-match unbeaten run in the Premier League five days after being brushed aside by Manchester United in Europe.
   Hiddink said: ‘I was very proud of the reaction of the team. Everyone knows after Wednesday that it’s very difficult to make it happen.
   ‘I think the team reacted perfectly except for the first 15 minutes. It shows that this team is one of strongest in Europe.’
   Wenger was furious that Didier Drogba appeared to dive to win the free-kick that led to Chelsea’s first goal. He said: ‘It was (a dive). We live in a league now where the divers are rewarded.
   ‘It is not right but it is like that. I don’t want to go into any individual assessment. It is down to the referee to do his job. ‘I don’t think the free-kick should have been given but we should still clear the cross.’
   Hiddink had resisted the temptation to take Drogba out of the firing line following his rant at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo in the aftermath of Barcelona’s last-gasp victory.
   Wenger was less forgiving to Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who was dropped after another lacklustre display against United.
   Arsenal’s Theo Walcott raided down the right dangerously in the early stages, forcing Petr Cech into action when he met Samir Nasri’s astute pass with a close-range shot that the Chelsea keeper parried for a corner.
   Walcott was at the heart of an equally incisive move that should have led to the opening goal.
   Nasri turned to pick out Walcott and his low cross was perfectly weighted for Abou Diaby. But with just Cech to beat the French midfielder scuffed tamely wide.
   Diaby tried to make amends as he teased Alex with a powerful run and cross that gave Walcott a clear sight of goal. Once again, poor finishing let the hosts down as Walcott side-footed wide.
   Those misses came back to haunt Arsenal as the Blues snatched the lead completely against the run of play. Inevitably it was a moment of controversy involving Drogba that produced the 28th minute goal. He went down easily under pressure from Cesc Fabregas, earning the Arsenal captain a booking when he protested Drogba had dived.
   From the resulting free-kick, Drogba curled over an inviting delivery that Alex, climbing above Mikael Silvestre, met with a powerful header which beat Lukasz Fabianski via the crossbar.
   Chelsea had become the first side to score a league goal at Arsenal since Robbie Keane struck for Liverpool in December.
   Fabregas’s frustration poured out and he was fortunate to escape a second booking for a lunge on Malouda moments later.
   There was worse to come as former Arsenal forward Anelka increased Chelsea’s lead in the 39th minute.
   Taking possession just inside the Arsenal half, Anelka made a surging run towards the penalty area and, with the Gunners defence backing off, he lashed a fierce swerving strike past Fabianski.
   Chelsea’s sheer size and power had worn down Wenger’s more fragile talents and the visitors scored again in the 49th minute with the assist coming from another former Gunner.
   Ashley Cole, taunted as usual by the home fans, made a forceful run down the left and, when he crossed into the penalty area, Toure diverted the ball into his own net.
   Bendtner provided a brief respite from the gloom in the 70th minute when he rose to power Bacary Sagna’s cross past Cech.
   But Malouda put the seal on Chelsea’s day - and Arsenal’s heaviest home league defeat since 1977 - when he tapped-in after Anelka’s shot hit a post in the 86th minute.

AC Milan star Kaka insists he has no plans to leave the club this summer, but has denied recommending that the club make a move for Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.
   Manchester United are the latest club to be linked with the Brazil playmaker in recent weeks as speculation continues to surround his long-term future with the Rossoneri.
   Long-term suitors Real Madrid are also thought to be weighing up a move for the 27-year-old, but Kaka says he wants to see out his contract Milan which runs until 2013.
   ‘I repeat I am under contract until 2013 and I want to fulfil it except if Milan makes another decision,’ Kaka told Aujourd’hui Sports.
   ‘If there is anything concrete we will see.
   ‘Meanwhile, I have no talks with anyone and I don’t ask for anything.’
   Manchester City failed in their pursuit of Kaka during the January transfer window and the South American revealed his love for Milan made him snub the lucrative deal on offer from cash-rich City.
   Manchester City? It is true, I thought about that proposition,’ added Kaka.
   ‘I have experienced a very important period in my life, which made me understand what Milan means to me.
   ‘That event allowed me to understand a lot of things and now I am stronger. I weighed up the pros and cons.
   ‘With my family we took stock about what could motivate me to leave or stay. It tipped the scales in favour of Milan. Indeed there was money, but that is not enough, because it is not the most important thing to me.
   ‘I am convinced I will have again opportunities to win titles at Milan, which is also why I gave up that trial.
   ‘I could also experience how much the fans love me. It is essential point to me, feeling love and support. It has helped me to make my decision.
   Kaka also played down suggestions that he recommended Liverpool star Gerrard to Milan.
   The former World Player of the Year denied he ever told Milan to buy Gerrard and he admits it would be impossible to lure the England man to the San Siro.
   ‘I didn’t say we should sign Gerrard,’ noted Kaka.
   ‘I was asked which player I liked and I named him because he is a huge player capable of doing anything on a pitch and there are very few players like him. That’s all.
   ‘Moreover I believe such a transfer is unfortunately impossible.’

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has insisted that his team have emerged from their recent crisis despite failing to win for a sixth league match in a row.
   Only the top three in Italy will go directly into the Champions League group stages next season, with the fourth-placed finisher having to negotiate two qualifying rounds.
   There had been speculation before the match that Ranieri would be fired if Juve lost, although press reports have claimed that the former Chelsea and Valencia boss will be replaced at the end of the season regardless.
   ‘We have been reactivated. The international break knocked us off the tracks and we weren’t ourselves anymore,’ said Ranieri.
   ‘After we were knocked out of the Champions League we became mentally unplugged and there was a very real crisis.
   ‘Milan were the right team to help us return to the team we have been for the last year and nine months (since Ranieri took over).’
   Juve put in a much improved performance, even if they did fail to win, and while Milan dominated possession, Juve looked the more potent up front with Iaquinta in particular causing the ageing Milan backline all sorts of problems.

Barcelo-na’s Champions League semi-final hero Andres Iniesta says he still hopes to play in the final against Manchester United on May 27 despite suffering a thigh injury at the weekend.
   ‘I will be in Rome. It’s a small tear. It’s not so serious, I suppose it’s caused by stress linked to the end of the season,’ the Spanish international midfielder said on Monday after leaving a Barcelona hospital where he underwent tests on his leg.
   ‘The desire I have to play in the final of the Champions League will help me a lot in recovering quickly.’
   The club said ‘doctors are working to ensure that he can be in the final in Rome’.
   Iniesta’s injury-time strike against Chelsea in London last week took Barcelona through to the final on the away goals rule.
   The injury to his right thigh, sustained in a 3-3 league draw against Villarreal on Sunday, has ruled him out of the final of the Spanish Cup on Wednesday against Athletic Bilbao.
   Another key player for Barca, French striker Thierry Henry, has also been ruled out of the Spanish Cup final through injury, but could also recover in time to face Manchester United in Rome.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has denied he has been set an ultimatum to agree to take over as manager of Chelsea next season.
   Instead, the Rossoneri coach claims he will continue in charge at the San Siro.
   Speaking after Sundays 1-1 draw at home to Juventus which all but ended Milan’s hopes of catching city rivals Inter in the race for the Serie A title, Ancelotti branded speculation of an ultimatum as ‘rubbish’.
   ‘It is not a problem which concerns me,’ he said.
   ‘I don’t have to give my availability. The time has not yet come for me to be replaced at Milan.’
   Ancelotti still has a year left to run on his contract with Milan and last night’s draw should be enough to guarantee them a place in the Champions League next season.
   Having won Europe’s premier club competition twice already with the Rossoneri, Ancelotti has
   no intention of leaving
   just when the chance of completing a hat-trick remains.
   ‘It’s easier to win in Europe with Milan than with other clubs so I am staying here,’ he added.
   On the domestic front, though, Ancelotti has conceded Milan’s Scudetto hopes are now over.
   It is four seasons since Milan last won the title, but a win last would have reduced Inter’s lead to just five points with three games remaining.
   But their rivals can now clinch a fourth straight title by beating Siena at the San Siro this coming Sunday, regardless of how Milan get on at Udinese 24 hours earlier.
   ‘That issue had already been dealt with,’ he said. ‘Our aim is to get one more win to finish in the top three.
   ‘It is not going to be easy at Udinese because they are in good form, but we should be able to take the points home with us from one of the next three games.’

Inter Milan closed in on the Serie A title despite being held to a 2-2 draw at lowly Chievo on Sunday after rivals AC Milan failed to take advantage with a 1-1 stalemate against Juventus.
   Inter, who lead by seven points with three matches left, could have wrapped up the title this weekend had they won and Milan lost but now they can do so next weekend if either they beat Siena at home or Milan lose away to Udinese.
   Coach Jose Mourinho, though, was still confident enough about his team’s scudetto chances to predict they will seal it next weekend.
   ‘Our destiny is in our own hands and that’s something extremely positive,’ he said.
   ‘Almost always what I say happens: who knows if what I predict will happen or not but we’ll win the scudetto at home to Siena.’
   Inter got off to a flying start as former Argentina international Hernan Crespo made the most of a rare start - only his second in the league all season due to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s suspension.
   After just three minutes Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino spilled a tame strike from Esteban Cambiasso, allowing Crespo to prod home the rebound.
   The visitors threatened to run away with things as veteran Portuguese winger Luis Figo’s shot deflected off Nicolas Frey and came back off the post after another Sorrentino mistake.
   But on 27 minutes Chievo struck back in stunning fashion as Michele Marcolini lashed in a left-foot drive from 25 yards out and slightly left of centre. Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar could do nothing but stand and admire it.
   Inter were back in front on 65 minutes through teenage forward Mario Balotelli with a goal even better than Marcolini’s: a rocket of a volley from just inside the area.
   That appeared to be that, but the hosts struck back as Andrea Mantovani sent a deep cross over from the left to Brazilian Luciano at the back post on 73 minutes.
   Inter full-back Maxwell had been drawn into the middle and he could not get back across quickly enough to stop Luciano side-footing home across Julio Cesar from 15 yards.
   At the San Siro, Milan dominated but Juve created the more clearcut chances in an entertaining end-to-end game.
   Milan went ahead fortuitously when Filippo Inzaghi crossed for Massimo Ambrosini and his scuffed shot wrong-footed Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and ran into the path of Clarence Seedorf to tap home into the empty net.
   The lead lasted only three minutes, though, as Juve equalised on the hour when Vincenzo Iaquinta held off Mathieu Flamini to convert Mauro Camoranesi’s cross with a diving header from close range.
   Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted afterwards that clawing their way back into the title race had not been on his mind.
   ‘The title wasn’t our objective, the title race would have been over whatever happened,’ he said.
   ‘We still need three points to ensure we finish in the top three (and go straight into the Champions League group stages) and we’ll try to get those in Udine next weekend.’
   The result ended Milan’s run of five straight victories and took Juve’s spell without a win to six games.
   Juve did at least put in an improved performance and under-fire boss Claudio Ranieri denied he was worried for his job.
   ‘There are critics but I’m not worried about them because the important thing is who they are,’ he said. ‘I know I’m on the right track.’

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink delivered a damning verdict on the gap between Arsenal and the rest of the ‘big-four’ after his side handed the Gunners their heaviest home league defeat for 32 years.
   Hiddink believes Chel-sea’s impressive res-ponse to the agony of their Champions League defeat against Barce-lona was in stark contrast to Arsenal’s faltering effort following their European exit to Manchester United.
   The Dutch coach is not the kind of man to gloat unnecessarily and his words carried no hint of glee but his message following Sunday’s 4-1 rout must be worrying for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
   Just five days after Arsenal were brushed aside with contemptuous ease by United, it was Chelsea’s turn to emphasise just how far the north London team have fallen behind their rivals at the top of the Premier League.
   Alex opened the scoring with a header from Didier Drogba’s free-kick, then former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka lashed home a stunning second.
   Kolo Toure’s own goal put the result beyond doubt and, although Nicklas Bendtner got one back, Florent Malouda confirmed Chelsea’s biggest win at Arsenal since 1960 and the Gunners’ biggest home league defeat since Ipswich won 4-1 at Highbury in 1977.
   Hiddink made it clear Chelsea’s battle-hardened players have much more character than the Arsenal’s fragile young talents, who are now 15 points behind leaders United.
   ‘I think it (the score) is a good reflection on the gap between the teams. We are a team that likes to react. We have had some set-backs but we are real men who like a challenge,’ he said.
   ‘When you have big players you must discover if they want to work for each other. Everyone has ego but it is important that they help each other with the dirty work no matter the name of the player.’
   Although Chelsea’s European challenge ended in disappointment, Hiddink can still take pride in his efforts when he returns to manage Russia on a permanent basis in June.
   The Blues are now guaranteed a top-three finish in the Premier League and have sealed their place in the Champions League group stages next season - an achievement which was far from certain when Hiddink replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari in February.
   ‘It gives me great satisfaction considering where we were in February,’ he said.
   ‘We told the players they had so much experience in World Cups and Champions League that it shouldn’t take much time to change things. They reacted perfectly in the league and Champions League.’

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has laughed off reports that he could move to Real Madrid as part of one of the presidential candidates’ deals.
   The Catalan playmaker was amused at the rumours linking him with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.
   Xavi has been in the senior side at Camp Nou since 1998 and has stressed he is fully committed to the Primera Division leaders.
   ‘Are you sure? Well I feel for them, but that is impossible. I could not be happy playing for Real Madrid, although I appreciate the compliments, especially from a rival team,’ he told Sport.
   Barca are currently closing in on the Primera Division title and they defeated Chelsea during midweek to set up a UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United.
   Xavi felt that Barca’s performance over both legs versus the Blues merited a place in the final and also that they deserved some luck after being beaten in the last four in 2008.
   He said: ‘The team that played the better football won the tie as we were the only team that went out to play.
   ‘The only penalty call that I thought could be one was the handball by Pique. But in Camp Nou we could have had one for a foul on (Thierry) Henry and (Michael) Ballack could have been sent off, but they did not say anything then.’
   ‘Football owed us something. Last season we lost to Manchester United in the semi-final and we were a lot better than them, but they beat us.
   ‘I will always remember John Terry coming into our changing room and congratulating us all one-by one. It was great to see that professionals like this are about.’

UEFA said Monday that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba might have to wait weeks for a disciplinary decision following his outburst during the club’s Champions League tie against Barcelona.
   A spokesman for European football’s governing body told AFP that Drogba’s case was likely to be reviewed by a regular meeting of UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary body.
   Chelsea are no longer involved in European competition this season and there is no urgency for a ruling, he explained.
   ‘This can wait for a while.’
   The next plenary meeting of the control body is scheduled for July 23.
   Drogba faces potentially severe sanctions over his confrontation with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovreba after Barcelona’s injury time goal sent the London side crashing out of the Champions League semi-final last Wednesday.
   His case was further aggravated by him screaming into a television camera that the official had been a ‘fucking disgrace.’
   UEFA said in a statement last week that it was examining both the referee’s and the delegate’s reports and was gathering additional evidence.
   Meanwhile, a special meeting of UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body on Monday afternoon was due to examine Manchester United’s appeal against Darren Fletcher’s Champions League Final suspension.
   Fletcher was given a red card during his club’s game against Arsenal, and would have to sit out the final against Barcelona in Rome on May 27 unless he wins the appeal.

UEFA’s disciplinary body confirmed Monday that Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will miss the Champion’s League final on May 27 along with Barcelona’s Eric Abidal and defender Daniel Alves.
   European football’s governing body said in a statement that the body rejected protests by both clubs against the suspensions.
   ‘All three players are therefore suspended for one UEFA club competition match and will serve their suspensions when Barcelona FC meet Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League final in Rome on 27 May,’ it added.
   Fletcher was suspended for the final against Barcelona after collecting a red card in United’s semi-final victory against Arsenal last week.
   Abidal also received a red card during the Spanish side’s semi-final against Chelsea, while Alves collected a yellow card in his second match in the Champion’s League.

UEFA on Monday granted Scotland, Denmark and Norway additional berths in next season’s Europa League after they topped the 2008-2009 European fair play ranking for clubs and national sides.
   One additional club from each country will be allowed into the first qualifying round of the revamped UEFA Cup later this year, European football’s governing body said in a statement.
   The clubs will normally be those that headed domestic fair play competitions.
   Norway came ahead of Denmark and Scotland respectively in the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009.
   The assessments by official UEFA match delegates are based on criteria like ‘positive’ play, respect for the opponent, the referee, crowd behaviour as well as cautions and dismissals by national and club sides during European competitions over the past year.