SEA OF BLACK, RED AND GOLD: File photo of Bayern Munich’s supporters (left) and supporters of Borussia Dortmund (right). The Bundesliga archrivals will play in the Champions League final at Wembley in London today. — Reuters photo

Bitter Bundesliga rivals collide at Wembley in first all-German final in Champions League history

LONDON: The home of English football will reverberate to the roar of German voices today when Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund collide at Wembley Stadium in the first all-Bundesliga final in Champions League history.

It is only two years since Barcelona confirmed their status as Europe’s pre-eminent side by outclassing Manchester United in the same arena to win the 2011 tournament, but the way that Bayern and Dortmund have torn through this season’s competition suggests a new continental order is asserting itself.

Bayern left Barca in ruins with an incredible 7-0 aggregate win in the semi-finals, while Dortmund’s 4-1 defeat of Real Madrid in the same round left the football world open-mouthed in amazement.

Irrespective of the result, it is certain to be a monumental evening for German football, but the two sides approach the game driven by very different motivations.

For Bayern, the game represents an opportunity to make amends for painful final defeats in 2010 and, in particular, 2012, when a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out loss to Chelsea was played out before a crowd of horrified and disbelieving fans at their own Allianz Arena.

Dortmund, the 1997 champions, yearn to inflict further misery upon Bayern, who have gravely undermined their opponents’ attempts to establish themselves as creditable long-term rivals by snatching away star playmaker Mario Goetze in a sensational 37 million euros (£31.7 million, US$47.8 million) transfer.

A hamstring injury to Goetze has reduced the risk of diplomatic embarrassment today, but Bayern are also believed to lead the race for Dortmund’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who put Madrid to the sword with an extraordinary four-goal haul in the first leg of their semi-final.

Goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has tried to downplay the significance of Goetze’s injury by pointing to the 2012 German Cup final, when Dortmund thrashed Bayern 5-2 in his absence.

“It goes without saying that with him we have a different quality,” he said. “But everything shouldn’t rest on him. In the DFB-Pokal final in 2012, Mario also didn’t play.”

After losing five times in a row to Dortmund during the Ruhr club’s back-to-back Bundesliga title successes in 2011 and 2012, Bayern have redressed the balance this season, avoiding defeat in all four of their most recent contests en route to a nigh-on flawless triumph in the German title race.

Today’s game will be the 101st competitive meeting between the sides and after seven encounters over the last two seasons, Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes believes there is little scope for sleight of hand.

“Both teams know each other very well, both trainers are fully informed about the opponent, so there are no secrets,” he said.

Heynckes can become only the fourth coach to win the competition with two different clubs, having previously led Madrid to their eighth Champions League title in 1998.

It will, however, be the 68-year-old’s final match in the dug-out.

He has announced his retirement after former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was appointed to succeed him, despite a phenomenal campaign that could end with Bayern claiming their first ever treble of league, German Cup and Champions League honours.

“”We’ve taken a massive stride towards perfection, and we’re aiming for a perfect performance in the final,” said midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, whose side will tackle Stuttgart in the German Cup final on June 1. “If we play to our potential, it’s very hard for anyone to win against us.”

Nine years after almost going bust, Dortmund hope to repeat their shock 1997 success, when a young Lars Ricken, now the club’s youth team co-ordinator, came off the bench to seal a 3-1 win over Juventus at Munich’s Olympiastadion with an audacious 25-yard chip.

Juergen Klopp’s side have charmed neutrals with their breathless counter-attacking football over the last three seasons and the likeable 45-year-old Dortmund manager hopes their rise has not left the impartial observer unmoved.

“We are a club, not a company, but it depends on which kind of story the neutral fan wants to hear,” he told British newspaper The Guardian.

“If he respects the story of Bayern, and how much they have won since the 1970s, he can support them. But if he wants the new story, the special story, it must be Dortmund.”

Aside from Goetze’s confirmed absence, Dortmund also have concerns over the fitness of former Bayern centre-back Mats Hummels, who injured his ankle in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim. Bayern are missing long-term injury victims Holger Badstuber and Toni Kroos, but unlike 12 months ago, when they were without Badstuber, David Alaba and Luiz Gustavo due to suspension against Chelsea, they are otherwise at full strength. — AFP

Goezte, 20, tore his right hamstring in Dortmund’s semi-final return leg at Real Madrid on April 30 and the attacking midfielder only managed an hour of training with the team on Tuesday before suffering a reaction, which has ruled him out.

“It was my big aim to play in the final and I have been working hard to reach that in the last few weeks,” said a disappointed Goetze on Wednesday.

“I am incredibly sorry that I can’t help the team in this really important game.

“I have full confidence in the team and will of course be going to London to support the boys from the sidelines.”

His withdrawal means Goetze has now played his last game in a Dortmund shirt after it was announced in April that he will join German champions Bayern for 37 million euros.

Meanwhile, Dortmund are waiting on the fitness of centre-back Mats Hummels, 24, who damaged his ankle in Saturday’s shock 2-1 league defeat at home to Hoffenheim, and sat out Tuesday’s training to allow the swelling to subside and is receiving intense treatment. — AFP

“Professionally, I am living my last hours in Malaga,” he said at a function to mark his achievements with the club in a report carried by Spanish Sports daily AS.

He added: “On Sunday I will manage my last game as Malaga coach at La Rosaleda.

“It will be a very emotional occasion and we hope to leave with the club qualified for Europe, with the mission completed and with the misfortune that the project changed.

“The agreement with the club has been gratifying and satisfactory. Everyone has the right to continue on their on path.

“I am not looking for economic ambitions but a sporting project that allows me to feel fulfilled.”

Pellegrini has been a reported long-term target for City, having previously won plaudits for his work at two other Spanish clubs in Real Madrid and Villarreal.

The plum City job is available following Roberto Mancini’s sacking last week.

Pellegrini, who has been in charge of Malaga since November 2010, guided the club to their highest ever league finish last season as Los Boquerones qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

And despite financial problems that forced them to sell a number of key players before the start of the this season, Pellegrini’s men remarkably reached the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition, only just missing
out on the semi-finals after conceding two controversial late goals against Borussia Dortmund.

However, the club are currently banned from participating in European competition next season pending an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport due to overdue debts owed to employees, other clubs and tax authorities.

Later Wednesday, Malaga confirmed the Chilean would be leaving.

“Coach Manuel Pellegrini will leave the club at the end of the season as he has already confirmed to the media,” said a club statement.

“Although he has two years left on his contract, he said there are ‘sporting reasons’ behind his decision.” — AFP

With the win, Johor DT also moved up to second spot with 34 points, just one point behind leader Lion XII from Singapore who have 35, thus demoting Armed Forces (33) to third place.

Inevitably it was former Kelantan star Norshahrul Idlan Talaha who spoilt his former team’s party by opening accounts in the 65th minute before Nurul Azwan Roya ensured all three points with the second goal in the 69th minute.

However, the win did not come easy for Johot DT as the match was delayed for about 40 minutes when fans started throwing bottles and other objects after failing to gain entry as the stadium was filled to capacity.

Police and the Johor DT management managed to reorganise the sitting arrangements for the fans, separating Kelantan and Johor fans before the match was allowed to start.

Meanwhile, Selangor moved closer to third position when Irfan Bakti’s boys beat Terengganu 2-0 at the Shah Alam Stadium with a brace from import Francis Forkey Doe in the 24th and 89th minutes.

Selangor now have 30 points, one ahead of Pahang who have 29 points after their 2-0 victory over Negeri Sembilan at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi.

The squad coached by former international Dollah Salleh, scored through Mohd Razman Roslan (38th min) and Damion Stewart (49th min). –Bernama

TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK: File photo of the Crocs during a light training session at Stadium Negeri last month. Alberts wants the team to go take a few days off and forget about football for a while.

KUCHING: Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts wants the team to go take a few days off and forget about football for a while.

According to him, the players totally deserve the rest as they have been working very hard to achieve the target set by the team before the start of the season.

“Now that we have achieved our target for this season, the players need a rest after working very hard and under pressure. I want the players not to think about football at all for now,” he said.

The team will resume normal training next week and Alberts opined that the team will do their best to achieve another goal which is to remain unbeaten in the Premier League.

With the pressure off for now, Sarawak will only play their next league match on June 21 against Johor, away.

Sarawak’s key target this season was to gain promotion to the next season’s Super League.

That was confirmed based on the points gap between Sarawak and third place Johor after Sarawak won 3-0 during the last match against Pos Malaysia FC last Tuesday.

Commenting on the last match, Alberts was glad that the tactical changes he made in the second half worked well for the team, giving the team a convincing win.

After an unsatisfactory first half, the Crocs played a lot better after half-time.

“I made a few changes which include swapping Azizan Baba’s position of playing in the right flank with Muamer Salibasic’s position in the front. It worked as the goals came right after that,” he added.

Alberts congratulated all members of the team for their achievements. He also thanked the fans for the massive support that they have given to the team so far.

This will be Bayern’s third European final in four years after the 2-0 defeat in 2010 to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in Madrid, then the acute disappointment of losing last May’s penalty shoot-out in Munich.

Ever since it was announced in January 2010 that the 2012 final would be held at Bayern’s Allianz Arena, the Bavarians had targeted lifting the cup ‘dahoam’ – ‘at home’ in the local dialect.

Having beaten Basel, Marseille and Real Madrid to reach the final, Germany star Thomas Mueller gave the hosts an 83rd-minute lead, putting Bayern on course for their fifth European title.

Until Chelsea ruined Munich’s party. Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba – on his last appearance in a Blues shirt – equalised from his team’s only corner of the game on 88 minutes, then converted the final penalty as the Londoners won the shoot-out 4-3 to break Bayern’s hearts.

“I experienced the 1999 final, when we lost so dramatically to Manchester United in Barcelona,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in the wake of the Chelsea defeat.

“That was also unbelievably brutal, but I have the impression that this is even more bitter, brutal and has superseded that.”

The Bavarians came back stronger, adding centre-back Dante and striker Mario Mandzukic to their squad, and brushed aside all-comers to win this season’s Bundesliga with a 25-point margin.

They claimed more than two dozen records, including most points (91), most wins (29 of 34 games), biggest goal difference (80+) and fewest goals conceded (18).

They are bidding to become the first German team to win the treble of European, league and cup crowns, but insist the 2012 final disappointment is just a distant memory.

“This is an incredibly stable squad, in its mentality and psychologically,” said coach Jupp Heynckes, who will bow out to be replaced by Pep Guardiola after the German Cup final on June 1 against VfB Stuttgart.

“We don’t let anything upset us and we have a very clear goal to win the European cup. Nothing will dissuade us from that.

“I have never experienced such a focused team, as a coach or as a player.”

“After last season, after such a disappointment, when we were the better team over the 90 minutes, games like that carve out exceptional people and that is what my players are.”

Heynckes said losing a second consecutive Champions League final has not entered his head, while Thomas Mueller said dealing with pressure is just part of being a Bayern player.

“The pressure is always there at FC Bayern, regardless of which game, except maybe for our second-leg at Barcelona,” he said after Bayern won the return semi-final 3-0 in Spain, after their 4-0 home leg victory.

“Last season, we seldom turned things around when we went behind, but on the few occasions it has happened this year we have reacted well.”

Bayern showed their mettle last Saturday when they ran out 4-3 winners having found themselves 3-1 down at Moenchengladbach in the first ten minutes.

Likewise, two goals in the last 17 minutes at home to Fortuna Duesseldorf in March rescued a 3-2 league victory.

Midfield star Bastian Schweinsteiger, who hit the post with Bayern’s fifth and final penalty in the 2012 final, said strength in depth is the key difference this time around.

And should he be called up to take another penalty in a possible shoot-out?

“If the coach wants me to, I’ll take one,” said the 28-year-old, who Heynckes has described as the “best midfielder in the world”.

“It’s always difficult talking about it and we want to decide the game over 90 minutes, and carry out our plan as well as possible, but if it comes to it, I’m ready.” — AFP

Having been released from his contract by Madrid, the charismatic but controversial Portuguese is now widely expected to return to Chelsea, with some British bookmakers offering odds of 20/1 on that he does so.

Chelsea’s fans have already made their feelings known about the prospect of his return, having lustily chanted his name on several occasions during the final weeks of the season.

His previous stint at the club, between 2004 and 2007, saw Chelsea emerge as the dominant force in English football and even their recent continental successes carried echoes of his impact.

Seven different managers will have been and gone by the end of the campaign, but the Europa League winners remain very much a Mourinho team – dogged, compact, and still bossed by Mourinho loyalists such as Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and captain John Terry.

Mourinho left after his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich broke down and, in his subsequent spell at Inter Milan, he confirmed his status as one of the great managers of modern times by leading the club to league, cup and Champions League glory in 2010. It is nonetheless a chastened Mourinho who will return to London. He found in Italy that the local media did not lap up his pot-stirring quite as enthusiastically as their English counterparts had, and in Spain things were even worse.

After Madrid went out of the Champions League following a one-sided semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund, he told reporters: “In Spain, some people hate me; many of you in this room.”

It has long been part of Mourinho’s strategy to portray himself as a victim, but any sympathy for him is mitigated by the list of misdemeanours he has perpetrated in the Spanish capital. The image of Mourinho poking then Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye during the Spanish Super Cup in August 2011 left an indelible stain on his reputation, and his long dispute with club icon Iker Casillas this season saw him alienate half the Madrid changing room.

His antics prompted Manchester United director Bobby Charlton to observe that a “United manager wouldn’t do that”, and Mourinho’s off-pitch conduct was one of the factors that pushed the Old Trafford club to look elsewhere for the successor to Alex Ferguson.

Mourinho’s desire to succeed Ferguson has long been apparent and the 50-year-old was lampooned in the British media for adopting what was seen as an uncharacteristically obsequious tone after his side’s victory over United in the Champions League last 16.

As well as the worry that he may still harbour ambitions to coach United, Chelsea’s fans must also hope he is able to reconstruct a successful working partnership with Abramovich.

The Portuguese would also have to submit to the authority of sporting director Michael Emenalo, a close Abramovich ally who oversees first-team affairs.

Despite the potential for fireworks, Chelsea fans believe Mourinho feels compelled to come back.

“The way he left was such a shock – it almost felt like a bereavement,” Chelsea Supporters’ Group chair Trizia Fiorellino told Britain’s Press Association.

“Both supporters and Jose himself think that there is unfinished business, which is why, I think, he is so keen to return.”

Several of Mourinho’s successors struggled to dismantle the ageing team that he had created, but interim coach Rafael Benitez has moved the squad forward during his turbulent six-month spell in charge. The influential Terry is no longer guaranteed a first-team place, while Fernando Torres looks a far more potent force than the spectre-like figure who wore the number nine shirt like a millstone in his first season and a half at the club.

In Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar, Chelsea also possess three of the most gifted creative midfielders in the country, although Mourinho, who has always favoured powerful, counter-attacking football, might be reluctant to fit all three into the same team.

Whatever happens, with Mourinho at the reins, it would be anything but dull. — AFP

TWO-GOAL HERO: File photo of Bobby Gonzales who increased his goal tally in Sarawak’s crucial win over Pos Malaysia FC yesterday.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s hard work at the Stadium Selayang, Selangor, yesterday has paid off as the crocs earned promotion to next season’s Super League.

Despite the fact that the last games of the premier league will only be played on July 5, Sarawak have cause for an early celebration.

It was a dream return to top flight for Sarawak as they were relegated from the Super League at the end of 2012 season.

Winning 3-0 against Pos Malaysia FC, the Sarawak team achieved their key target set at the beginning of this season.

Both sides were locked in a stalemate until half time.

After the start of the second half, Sarawak’s Bosnian import Muamer Salibasic broke the deadlock as he scored from the edge of the Pos Malaysia FC penalty box.

Bobby Gonzales followed suit after he slotted in the second goal a few minutes later after connecting a pass from Muamer.

In the dying minutes of the game, Bobby scored another impressive goal to add to his tally of 19 goals scored for this season so far.

Before yesterday, Sarawak only needed to win just one more match to guarantee a promotion to Malaysia’s top tier football.

This was due to the points gap between Sarawak and third placed team Johor, with only four more league matches to go.

With the win against Pos Malaysia FC, Sarawak also stayed four points clear from second place team Sime Darby FC in the league.

Sime Darby FC was stunned 0-1 by homesters SPA Putrajaya FC yesterday in Melaka.

All is not done for Sarawak as they have three more league matches to play.

Head coach Robert Alberts had said before the match (last Monday) that he hoped for the Crocs to finish the season unbeaten.

“There is still a lot of work to be done after the match tomorrow (yesterday). It will indeed be a good reward for both team and the fans if Sarawak stay unbeaten until the end of the season,” he added.

Football Association of Sarawak president Datu Sudarsono Osman, who flew to support the team in Selangor, was ecstatic in assessing Sarawak’s performance: “Thanks to all the players and supporters for their hard work. We deserve this!”

Sarawak will next face Johor away on June 21.

The meeting will be held at the National Sports Council (NSC) office in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.

Describing the issue as serious, FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said it should be given serious attention by all parties, including the police.

“We hope to continue working with police or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to address this issue immediately,” he told reporters after launching “Team Harimau” Visa Bank Islam debit card at Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya, here yesterday.

Tengku Abdullah advised all footballers in the country not to be involved in corrupt practices.

“Don’t approach bookies because once you open up to them, there will be consequences. Threats, murder attempts, or intimidation to scare family members can happen.”

On Monday, newspapers reported that some Malaysian League football players and their family members received death threats from gambling syndicates for failing to meet their demands.

The bookie issue rose during the Premier League match where Sime Darby FC thrashed Kuala Lumpur 5-0 on Friday.

The result was extensively discusssed on Facebook and Twitter as it was said to be identical to that predicted by bookies present in the stadium.

In Kuala Lumpur, MACC investigations director Datuk Mustafar Ali said the commission would look into the bookie issue if it receives reports on it.

“We will examine aspects of corruption in relation to the football match,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

Bukit Aman principal assistant director of Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice Division, Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said the police will act against the culprits. — Bernama

Just as in his spells in charge at Chelsea and Inter, Mourinho’s time at the Bernabeu has been filled with controversy, debate, scandal and no lack of success.

Brought in by Florentino Perez to bring back the Champions League trophy that he had won for Inter Milan in the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, his legacy in the Spanish capital will though be indelibly marked by his failure to deliver “La Decima”, Madrid’s 10th European title.

The Portuguese’s relationship with Madrid has been a love-hate one throughout his three years in charge and the degree to which he was allowed to cross what some saw as unacceptable lines of conduct very much depended on just how much he was winning.

The ultra-defensive tactics used against the all-powerful Barcelona side in Pep Guardiola’s reign were palatable when winning the Copa del Rey against them in 2011, but not so much when Madrid lost their Champions League semi-final against the same opponents two weeks later.

There were flashpoints such as poking the now Barca boss Tito Vilanova in the eye on the touchline in another heated El Clasico clash between the two in August 2011 and so many clashes with the press that any media briefing from the Portuguese has become a rarity in 2013.

However, for all his media squabbles, Mourinho’s real problems throughout his time in Madrid, but particularly this season, have been not so much with the press but a number of his own players.

In past years splits between the Portuguese and Spanish speaking groups in the dressing room have been patched together by a common goal and hunger to oust Barcelona as top dogs in Spain.

Yet, having won the league last season, from very early on in this campaign Mourinho was quick to criticise in public those that he saw as not reaching the standards they set in last season’s record-breaking run to the La Liga title.

The likes of Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil were singled out early in the campaign as Madrid relinquished their title with barely a fight as they dropped 20 points in the first-half of the season to gift Barcelona a commanding lead that they never relinquished.

And there were even more fireworks to come as Mourinho dropped club captain and legend Iker Casillas for a couple of games at the turn of the year and then refused to bring him back into the side once the Spanish number one had returned from a three-month absence due to a hand injury in April.

Those undercurrents of dressing room division exploded in recent weeks following their third Champions League semi-final elimination in three years against Borussia Dortmund.

As Mourinho continued his own personal campaign against Casillas, Pepe, one member of the squad seen as being closest to Mourinho, publicly criticised his coach for having a lack of respect for Casillas.

That led the Portuguese coach to leave his compatriot out of the Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid, and Mourinho’s judgement to put personal duels ahead of the team was questioned even more when Atleti sprung a huge surprise to lift the cup in their neighbours’ own backyard.

That embarrassment capped a horrible year for the club and one which Mourinho accepted was his “worst in his career.”

In recent weeks Mourinho has been keen to stress that his overall delivery of a title, a first Copa del Rey for 20 years and three consecutive Champions League semi-finals is a great improvement for Real given their previous six-year run of not having made it past the last-16.

But even he accepted that Madrid is not a club that measures success in semi-finals, especially given the fact he has presided over the most expensively assembled squad in history for the past three years.

And if strong rumours are to be believed, the 50-year-old looks set to return to Chelsea, the other stop on his managerial tour of Europe where he failed to achieve his Champions League dream.

Mourinho, by his own recognition, is loved in West London after ending the Blues’ 50-year wait for a league title, winning the Premier League on two occasions, as well as two League Cups and an FA Cup.

And whilst failing to become the first manager to win Europe’s top prize with three different clubs at the most successful one of all in continental terms will sting the “special one’s” ego, the challenge and reward of doing so at Chelsea may be even more gratifying. — AFP

Manchester City had secured the 2012 title in the dying seconds of the season’s final game, but Manchester United succeeded them at a canter, sewing up a 20th league crown with four games to spare after a 3-0 win over Aston Villa. With Queens Park Rangers, Reading and FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic all relegated before the season’s final weekend, the only late drama concerned the race for the fourth and final Champions League place.

Arsenal ultimately prevailed at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur, who had led their north London rivals by seven points in March and who now face a fight to hold onto Gareth Bale, the season’s outstanding player.

With City finishing second and Chelsea claiming third place, England will send the same four teams into the Champions League as they did this term, but three of them are braced for periods of huge upheaval.

The defining story of the season erupted just over a week and half before its conclusion, with the sensational news that Alex Ferguson was to retire as United manager after 26 and a half extraordinarily successful years.

His successor, Everton’s David Moyes, will inherit a youthful, improving squad, spearheaded by 26-goal Golden Boot-winner Robin van Persie, but the 50-year-old Scot has an impossible act to follow.

City finished the season three points above Chelsea in third place, but it is the Londoners who will remember the campaign with greater fondness.

Despite being vilified for his previous role as Liverpool coach, interim manager Rafael Benitez led Chelsea to both a top-four finish and European success following a stoppage-time win over Benfica in the Europa League final.

As he complained, bitterly, following an FA Cup win over Middlesbrough in February, Benitez knew he was only ever a stop-gap appointment, and England is now braced for the whirlwind of charisma and controversy that is Jose Mourinho to whip its way back to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid.

City are also expected to have a former Madrid manager at the helm next season, with Malaga’s Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini tipped to succeed Roberto Mancini, who lost his job after a shock loss to Wigan in the FA Cup final.

As well as seeking to exploit the power vacuum left by Ferguson’s exit, the new men at Chelsea and City, plus Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, will be desperate to improve on a Champions League showing that saw all four English representatives fall before the quarter-finals. Although they were to slip out of the top flight, Wigan’s FA Cup success over City on a rain-soaked Wembley day was a reward for the expansive football encouraged by their in-demand coach, Roberto Martinez.

Another club shaped by the Martinez blueprint triumphed in the League Cup, with Swansea City thrashing third-tier Bradford City 5-0 to claim their first major trophy. Ferguson was joined in retirement by a number of Premier League icons, including United veteran Paul Scholes, Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher, and Michael Owen, whose career trickled out at Stoke City.

If Bale, author of several astonishing goals, was the season’s darling, the villain was unquestionably Luis Suarez.

Despite a clutch of match-winning performances, the spiky Uruguayan saw out the campaign from the sidelines after being handed a 10-match ban by the Football Association for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

Chelsea captain John Terry also fought an endless battle with bad press, notably being banned for four games for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, while Paolo Di Canio survived a media storm over his alleged fascist sympathies to spare Sunderland from the drop.

Cardiff City, Hull City and either Watford or Crystal Palace will join the English elite next season, and while television revenue is expected to soar beyond £5 billion (US$7.6 billion), the product being beamed into homes around the world will be fronted by some very different faces. — AFP

The win for Arsenal sealed the final qualifying spot for the Champions League.

That left London rivals Tottenham, who beat Sunderland 1-0, in fifth place and forced to settle for a Europa League place. -AFP

Barcelona’s forward Pedro Rodriguez (R), Barcelona’s midfielder Xavi Hernandez (L) and Barcelona’s midfielder Cesc Fabregas (C) celebrate after scoring during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid on May 19, 2013 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Barcelona’s title celebrations for Sunday’s clash with Valladolid were drowned out by a heavy downpour. -AFP photo

Barcelona celebrated lifting the La Liga trophy for a 22nd time with a 2-1 win over Valladolid on Sunday at a rain-lashed Camp Nou.

The wet conditions resulted in the lowest attendance for a Barca home league match this season as only 56,055 filled the 99,354 capacity ground.

However, first-half goals from Pedro Rodriguez and into his own net from Marc Valiente were enough to keep the champions on track to match Real Madrid’s league record of 100 points before Victor Perez’s penalty halved the deficit a minute from time.

Given the injuries to Lionel Messi and Dani Alves, Barca boss Tito Vilanova sent out about as strong a starting line-up as he could with Victor Valdes and Javier Mascherano returning after a number of weeks out through injury.

However, given the stormy conditions and general lack of atmosphere, it took some time for Barca to get going.

They did manage to make the breakthrough with virtually their first clear opening on 20 minutes though as Xavi recovered possession in midfield and surged forward before feeding Pedro and his low shot slipped under Jaime Jimenez who ought to have done better to keep it out.

Oscar Gonzalez then wasted a decent opening to get the visitors back into the game at the other end, but he dribbled a disappointing effort into Valdes’ arms from range when he seemed to have a clear run on goal.

Andres Iniesta saw a deflected effort loop just over as Barca began to up the tempo with their short passing game before the break, but their second goal arrived in somewhat fortunate circumstances as the wet conditions contributed to Valiente slicing Xavi’s corner into his own net.

Xavi tested Jaime with a low skidding effort that the keeper handled well with the first effort of the second period and Pedro really ought to have registered his second of the evening when he blasted over from Cesc Fabregas’ cut-back just after the hour mark.

Jaime then made fine saves from Martin Montoya and David Villa to keep the score down, whilst Pedro failed to hit the target with another guilt-edged opportunity nine minutes from time.

Valladolid were handed a consolation in the 89th minute when with practically their first attack of the second-half Montoya brought down Manucho inside the area and Perez converted the resulting penalty. -AFP

The two-day event was held last weekend from May 18 – 19 at the Yayasan Sarawak football field off Jalan Sultan Tengah in Semariang.

According to Ahmad Yusoff of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Kuching was the organiser’s final destination and he was also glad that it was the best in terms of support from participants.

“We have been all over the country and I do admire the enthusiasm of the kids here. Their passion really showed during the trials and I must say that there might be a few players that caught my attention,” he said.

He was also a panel member of the selection committee.

The nation-wide programme provides an opportunity for selected young players (13 to 16 years) to be sent for trials with Manchester United.

Participants were divided into two age groups during the trials. The two age groups were the 13 to 14-years-old and 15 to 16-years-old.

All trialists were assigned into a random team of five players. They then played 10-minute matches.

Two talent scouts employed by the organisers would stand at the side of the pitch to watch and assess the trialist’s perfomances.

Ahmad revealed that all contestants who made the cut would be contacted soon.

He however did not reveal how many players would be selected from the trials here.

“Although there’s indeed quality today, we need to evaluate our options. This process will not be easy for us as we want only those who really meet certain criteria set by the organisers,” he added.

The programme was organised by Telekom Malaysia in cooperation with National Sports Council (NSC), Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the Manchester United Football Club (MUFC) and Frenz United Football Academy.

The talent search, which is also a television programme, is a sequel to the first edition of the programme aired last year on national television.

emotional: Paris Saint-Germain’s English midfielder David Beckham walks off the pitch after the French L1 football match between Paris St Germain and Brest at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. — AFP photo

PARIS: With the Beatles ringing in his ears and tears in his eyes, David Beckham admitted that his starring role in Paris Saint-Germain’s French title party was the last chapter of his colourful career.

The 38-year-old former England captain, one of the most high-profile players to shuffle between football and celebrity, made his final home appearance for the Ligue 1 champions on Saturday before heading into retirement.

Although PSG have one more game left to play, next weekend’s meaningless fixture on an unforgiving plastic pitch at humble Lorient will almost certainly see Beckham watching from the sidelines.

“We have one more game officially, but it’s a plastic surface and it was only a few years ago that I ruptured my Achilles (tendon). So whether or not I play, who knows?,” said Beckham after PSG marked their Ligue 1 triumph with a 3-1 win over relegated Brest.

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi, the helmsman of Qatar’s huge financial stake in the Paris club, is convinced that the Beckham story is over.

“Up to the coach but basically, I think that will be the last match for him,” al-Khelaifi told the BBC.

Beckham, who rose from modest beginnings in east London to amass a fortune of  165 million ( 252 million, 195 million euros), has been linked with a raft of future career possibilities.

They range from promotional roles with PSG and China and British Sky Sports television, to buying a stake in an American club in Major League Soccer where he has already played for Los Angeles Galaxy.

But, as befits a sports diplomat in the making, Beckham preferred to concentrate on the end of his brief, five-month stay with PSG rather than the unfamiliar challenges of retirement.

The stadium gave him a standing ovation as he left the pitch 10 minutes from time in floods of tears at the end of an evening which had seen him handed the captain’s armband by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

He was saluted by a guard of honour from his teammates before he climbed the podium to receive his Ligue 1 title medal.

Draped in an English flag and serenaded by the Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye”, a laser show accompanied a brief video highlights reel of his time with the club.

It concluded with the words: “Thank you David”.

“The emotions started kicking in about 20 minutes before I went off. It was hard to even run and kick the ball. And to see the reaction of the players was really special,” he said.

With 25 members of his family looking on — including his parents and wife Victoria — Beckham admitted that his own sons had already made off with the match-day souvenirs.

“The boys nicked my boots and shorts and medal,” Beckham told Sky Sports.

“The experience has been the best. I feel so lucky to have had this profession for 20 years. It’s very special and to go out like this, it could not be any more perfect.”

Beckham said he felt humbled by being named captain.

“When the manager told me, it was really special. To be an Englishman as captain on a night which meant so much to the fans. It was an amazing gesture and I will always be thankful for it.”

Last week, Beckham had helped PSG to their first league title since 1994 with a win over Lyon, and then announced he would retire at the end of the season having captured a championship in a fourth different league — he had already succeeding with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Galaxy.

“Thanks to everyone in Paris, to all of my teammates, the staff and fans,” said Beckham at the trophy presentation.

“It’s been very special to finish my career here. I now want to enjoy time with my family. I have all the memories I need.

“Paris has always been one of the world’s most beautiful places for me and I am very sad to be leaving.”

On the pitch, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while Beckham had a hand in the other PSG goal, a trademark, inch-perfect corner finding Blaise Matuidi to hit the target. — AFP

just once: Atletico Madrid’s players celebrate on an open bus at the Neptuno square in Madrid a day after winning the Spanish King’s Cup (Copa del Rey). Atletico Madrid won their 10th Spanish Cup on May 17 when they beat bitter city rivals Real Madrid 2-1 in extra-time. — AFP photo

MADRID: Cheering Atletico Madrid fans swamped the streets of Spain’s capital in a joyous red-and-white victory party Saturday after snatching the Spanish Cup by beating Real Madrid for the first time in 14 years in a 2-1 thriller at their archrivals’ home ground, the Bernabeu.

Roars of delight echoed through the Spanish capital as fans welcomed their Argentine coach Diego Simeone and the players in the central city square, Plaza de Neptuno, the traditional victory venue for Atletico fans, who are more used to seeing their derby rivals celebrate just up the road in the Plaza Cibeles.

Atletico Madrid players toured the city from their stadium Vicente Calderon to the city square on a double-decker, open-top bus painted with the words CHAMPIONS on the side, brandishing the silver King’s Cup trophy and parting crowds like a red-and-white sea encircling a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.

“It’s great! It’s incredible! We deserve it because we have trying and trying for many years and finally it is here,” said one fan, 17-year-old emergency health services Carolina de Fente, her face painted in the team colours and hair covered in an Atletico Madrid scarf.

“There are things you have to enjoy once in your life and this is one of them,” said 40-year-old salesman Javier Santamaria as supporters broke into a chorus of the team anthem.

“This is the result of work, humility and heart,” he added.

Crowds of fans chanted “Champions, Champions” and cried out the name of coach and hero Simeone, who was earlier received at the city hall.

The surprise victory on Friday night gave Atletico fans a rare taste of victory over Real Madrid, who had both coach Jose Mourniho and then forward Cristino Ronaldo sent off.

Real Madrid end the season as runners-up to Barcelona in the League and without managing to snare silverware from either the Spanish Cup or the Champions League.

After years of disapointment, thousands of Atletico supporters could not wait for the organized celebrations Saturday for the 10th Spanish Cup victory in the team’s history, swarming instead to the Plaza de Neptuno even before the final whistle.

Good natured celebrations were transformed into sporadic clashes in the early hours of Saturday , however, and some youths burned rubbish containers or threw bottles and stones at police who chased them through the streets. Police reported 11 arrests and 18 minor injuries.

Spain’s press was scathing, however, about Real Madrid’s season, almost certainly the final chapter in Mourinho’s time in charge.

Madrid sports daily Marca reflected on Mourinho’s behaviour on its front page as he didn’t go up to collect his loser’s medal after being sent from the touchline and admitted afterwards that he “had failed this season.”

“Madrid began to run out physically and emotionally,” wrote Santi Segurola in Marca. “Madrid’s game was defined by the sendings-off for Mourinho and Cristiano, the two flagships of a team that has entered into a lamentable spiral after their elimination from the European Cup.

“Atletico kept their temperament. They didn’t concede the opportunity that Madrid looked for. Not this time. They beat their old rival on the best day possible and in the dream scenario.”

And there was plenty of criticism laid at Mourinho’s door, not just for defeat on Friday night, but for his three-year spell in charge which has delivered just the league title last season and the 2011 Copa del Rey in terms of major trophies. — AFP

Chelsea and Manchester City both head to America to play back-to-back games against each other in St Louis on May 23 and in New York on May 25 while Tottenham Hotspur play an exhibition match against Jamaica in the Bahamas the same week.

And that’s not good news for Hodgson who has just announced a squad to play friendly internationals against the Republic of Ireland on May 29 and Brazil on June 2 — a squad that is already decimated by injury and that contains eight players from those three clubs.

“We’ve been very unlucky there,” said Hodgson.

“I’m not going to be hypocritical about it. We brought our games forward. Our official dates are on June 6 — in  which case we would have been keeping the players through until at least June 7. But our thought was let’s do it as quickly as possible after the league season if we can, and get the players back home for a long rest.

“My thinking, which is obviously based on having been a club manager for a good number of years, is that they’ll probably want a few days after the season ends.

“They’re not going to want to go straight from end-of-season to us — so let them have a week and then we’ll get them together and we’ll keep them all week. And then they’re free.

“So we’ve been scotched a little bit by the three teams who’ve decided to go on long, post-season tours. Because of course it’s made it, particularly with the first match, a little bit difficult. Some of the players will only have been back a few days when we’ve got to play.

“And also we’re scotched to some extent that all the three teams have decided to go far west — America and Bahamas — so they’re going back and forward on these long journeys. But once again that’s the situation we find ourselves in. We can’t dictate to clubs what they do.”

England are already without stars such as captain Steven Gerrard and midfielder Jack Wilshere, who are due to undergo operations as soon as the season is completed, as well as injured players such as Chris Smalling and Ashley Young.

So Hodgson is unlikely to be in a position to grant recovery time to anyone suffering jet lag.

But he isn’t, of course, the first England manager to suffer such frustrations.

For many years there have been discussions over whether English players, who play almost exclusively in the brutally fast and furious Premier League, will ever be able to perform to their full potential in World Cups and European Championships when they so often end the season injured or tired — or both.

With that in mind, Hodgson has continued to campaign for a mid-season break — even though the possibility of exhibition matches abroad in January would surely rear its head even if he was able to win his argument.

The reality, however, is that England will just have to cope with tiredness and injury for the foreseeable future; so perhaps Hodgson’s only real calling card is to campaign against a growing trend for players to pull out of international squads with relatively routine injuries or even because they don’t expect to play.

“I think every game you play as an England player is a great opportunity,” he insisted.

“We must not forget that because if we’re not careful we’re going to lose sight of the fact that the Premier League is a fantastic league, and that’s something quite fantastic. The Champions League, the Europa League, they’re big too. But international football is up there apart.

“You’ve only got to wait for the World Cups or the European Championships to come around to realise how vitally important people regard their national team. It really brings people together.

“So during my time as manager I will always be preaching ‘you should never in any way debase the chance to play for England’. And even if you’re just lucky enough to get one game, that should be something which should keep you going in your football life for a long time, and give you photographs and stories to tell your grandchildren.” — AFP

OPENER: Sarawak’s Zamry Morshidi (second left) celebrates after scoring a goal with teammates during the Premier League match between NS Betaria at State Stadium recently. — Bernama photo

KUCHING: Sarawak inch closer to the Premier League title after thrashing NS Betaria 7-0 in front of around 20,000 home fans on Friday night.

On-form Bobby Gonzales was on cloud nine after scoring four goals, while Zamri Morshidi, Guy Bwele and Muamer Salibasic also entered the scorecard.

The goal fest started in the 29th minute when Zamri Morshidi opened accounts after a throw in by Ramesh.

Ten minutes later, Bobby Gonzales made his way past the defender to shoot a low ball past the NS Betaria custodian.

The second half saw a dominant display by the homesters with Bobby punishing the visitors a minute after the breather after connecting a pass to shoot to the left side of the net.

He completed his hit-trick after flicking the ball following a rebound from Muamer’s shot in the penalty box.

Midfielder Guy Bwele added to the night of misery for the visitors with an easy manoeuvre past the Betaria defense before calmly sending the ball to the right side of the net.

In the 75th minute Muamer capitalised on a gap in the defense to let go a thunderous shot to the top of the net.

The Crocs were awarded a penalty after a foul in the dying minutes of the game and it was left to Bobby to convert the chance much to the delight of the home crowd.

With four matches to go in the league, Sarawak will need to stay focused as Sime Darby, who thrashed Kuala Lumpur 5-0 on Friday evening, are trailing in second spot by only a single point. The Crocs are expecting two tough away matches against Johor on Jun 21 and against Sabah on July 5 in the quest for the league title.

Real had been unbeaten in the previous 25 meetings between the two sides dating back 14 years and Mourinho’s men got off to the perfect start when Ronaldo headed in Luka Modric’s corner.

However, Diego Costa levelled for Atletico 10 minutes before half-time and Los Rojiblancos rode their luck as Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo all hit the post for Real.

Mourinho, expected to be back in charge at Chelsea next season, was then sent from the touchline 13 minutes from the end of normal time before Miranda headed Atletico in front eight minutes into extra time.

There was even more drama to come as Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for reacting angrily to a late challenge from Gabi with six minutes remaining.

“We had two clear chances on goal, we hit the post three times — this is why I think it is unfair,” said Mourinho.

But Gabi who was also sent-off, insisted his side were worthy winners.

“This team has worked hard, to be here with the fans,” Gabi told TVE.

“We deserve it, this victory is for them, for those people that have waited 14 years to see Atletico beat Madrid.”

Real captain Sergio Ramos was left to rue their missed chances throughout the 120 minutes.

“After the first goal we maybe relaxed and they pushed us back,” he said.

“We have four or five clear chances and when you don’t take them, then you regret it. It is clear that this is the reality and we have to accept it.”

Mourinho, who could well have sat on the Real bench for the last time as he is now likely to receive a four-game touchline ban, continued to controversially freeze out Pepe after his outspoken comments against the coach.

Raul Albiol was preferred alongside Ramos in central defence.

However, buoyed by the confidence that they had won all eight derbies during Mourinho’s reign, Real took just 13 minutes to make the breakthrough as Ronaldo was given far too much room by Diego Godin and Radamel Falcao to register his 55th goal of the season with a precise header.

Gabi responded for Atletico with their first shot on goal moments later that flew over the bar, but despite enjoying a decent spell of possession, Diego Simeone’s men were finding it difficult to create a clear-cut opening.

However, when it did arrive on 35 minutes they took full advantage. Falcao called Mourinho’s decision to field Albiol into question as he turned the Spanish international and released Costa to fire in his eighth goal in the competition with a low drive past Diego Lopez.

The equaliser sparked Real into life in the final throws of the opening half as Modric drilled a low shot just wide from the edge of the area before Ozil struck the inside of the post with a half-volley.

Real ought to have been back in front on the hour mark as Ronaldo burst down the left and his cut back was fired against the post by Benzema.

Real then struck the post for the third time as a Ronaldo free-kick came back off the upright.

Mourinho was then sent from the touchline for protesting after a number of marginal decisions went against his side.

Atletico had the first chance in extra-time as Costa was released clean through on goal, but his effort was too close to Lopez.

From the resulting corner they did take their chance as Koke’s second attempt at a cross from the right was flicked in at the near post by Miranda.

Atletico’s task in the final minutes was made easier when Ronaldo kicked out at Gabi and saw a straight red card.

Gabi was also sent off but Simeone’s team held on to seal their third trophy in little over a year. — AFP

Beckham and Ferguson, who were synonymously linked with Manchester United until the former England captain moved to Real Madrid, both announced in the past 10 days they would retire from soccer at the end of the current season.

The 71-year-old Ferguson’s final game in charge after 26 years at Old Trafford will be on Today while the 38-year-old Beckham will retire as a player after Paris St Germain’s French Ligue finale against FC Lorient on May 26.

“You talk about longevity and in many ways reinventing himself, it has been absolutely incredible,” Ferguson was reported as saying by the BBC on Friday.

“When he went to America there wasn’t a person in this place who really thought he could have a career,” Ferguson added about Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy in 2007.

“Yet he went on and still played for his country, he played for AC Milan in European ties and he played for PSG in European ties, and I don’t think anyone could have imagined that.

“He had unbelievable stamina … he could run all day, and that has allowed him to stay in the game at that kind of level, playing for his country in his mid 30s.”

Beckham joined Manchester United as an 11-year-old and went on to play 11 years at the club under Ferguson, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in a trophy-laden career.

The midfielder, who described Ferguson as a father figure, had a falling out in 2003 when a boot kicked by the manager in the team’s dressing room following a defeat struck Beckham in the face and the player moved to Real Madrid later that year.

“I think he’s picked the right time (to retire),” Ferguson added. “He’s won the league again with PSG and he is exactly the same as me, he has plenty of things to do.

“He is an amazing person.” — Reuters