UEFA charge Real and Barcelona

UEFA have have opened disciplinary cases against Real Madrid and Barcelona following incidents at Wednesday's Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu.

Barcelona's 2-0 win over Real in the first leg of their semi-final was marred by incidents on and off the pitch.

Real have been charged in relation to Pepe's sending off, Jose Mourinho's dismissal to the stands, missiles hurled on the pitch, a pitch invasion and Mourinho's statement to the media after the game. Barcelona have been charged for the red card picked up by substitute keeper Jose Pinto following a brief flare-up between the two benches at the end of the first half.

A statement on the UEFA website read: ''Following last night's UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona, UEFA has opened the following disciplinary cases against the clubs.

''The case against Real Madrid is in relation to the throwing of missiles, a pitch invasion, the red card shown to Pepe, the dismissal of coach José Mourinho, as well as the inappropriate statement given by Mr Mourinho to the media after the match (UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, Article 5 - Principles of conduct).

''The case against Barcelona regards the red card administered to José Pinto. Both cases will be heard by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on Friday, May 6.''

Both cases will be heard by UEFA's disciplinary board on 6th May.

Barcelona had already indicated that they were considering taking legal action against Mourinho after he made the claim that the club's sponsorship deal with charity UNICEF meant they were given favourable treatment by officials.

"Jose Mourinho severely criticised the referee Herr Stark and insinuated that UEFA treated Barca favourably. The club's legal department are now studying whether to take his remarks to the UEFA disciplinary commission," Barca said in a statement on Thursday morning.

Ferguson revels in United performance

Man United are now a best price 13/8 to win the Champions League after their comfortable 2-0 win over Schalke last night…

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased with his side's performance as they cruised past Schalke to move closer to this season's Champions League final.

United were dominant in Germany with Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney both scored in a 2-0 away win.

Giggs, who had missed a couple of fantastic chances, was played in by Rooney and finished well before Rooney added a second only two minutes later."Our concentration, intensity and speed of passing was excellent,'' Ferguson said afterwards. "We had less chances in the second half but were more dangerous, when Chicharito scored and it was offside it told the players they could beat the goalkeeper.''

"Juventus in 1999 will always be on the list of great performances away from home in Europe but this certainly ranks as one of them.

"The players have confidence and trust in each other and they are peaking."

Ferguson also suggested the ability to name the same starting 11 that played against Chelsea in the previous round was significant.

"The continuity of selection in these games gives us good experience and work-rate and I have good options with the likes of Nani, Scholes and Anderson. We have selection problems now but that is what we want,'' he added.

The Scot is in the market for a new goalkeeper with Dutch veteran Edwin van der Sar retiring at the end of the season and has been linked with Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer, who performed marvels on the night to keep the score respectable.

"He was fantastic," said Ferguson. "That is one of the best performances I've seen against Manchester United."

The United boss even suggested he could rest key players in the return leg as the fight to win the Premier League takes priority.

"Depending on the result on Sunday [at Arsenal] I could make two or three changes because we play Chelsea the following weekend.

"We are a bit disappointed we didn't take more chances but overall we are delighted with the performance. In the first half especially we had some good chances and we were disappointed at half time not to be in front.''

But Rooney refused to accept that United now have one foot in the final at Wembley, aware that Schalke scored five goals in the San Siro against Inter in the quarter-finals.

"Schalke are a good team and we can't take them lightly. We need to make sure we are professional and fully concentrated,'' he said.

Giggs, who became the oldest player to score in the history of the Champions League, insisted the players were confident they would be able to find a goal despite being constantly denied by Neuer.

"We knew that if we kept creating chances one would go in and hopefully I would get one on my left foot rather than my right,'' he said. "Before the game we would have taken 2-0 but now we are slightly disappointed.''

Man United are now a best price 13/8 to win the Champions League after their comfortable 2-0 win over Schalke last night…

Mourinho has no magic formula

Jose Mourinho says he has no “magic potion” to guarantee victory for his Real Madrid side against Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg.

The Portuguese led Inter to victory in last year's competition before moving to Spain, disposing of Pep Guardiola's Barca side on the way with a 3-2 aggregate win in the semi-finals.“They (Barca) are a top team with a top coach and everything is possible,” he told a news conference at Real's training ground ahead of Tuesday's game.

“I am exactly the same coach who lost 5-0 to Barcelona and I don't have any magic potion.”

However, the balance of power has shifted since then, with Real earning a 1-1 La Liga draw at the Bernabeu this month and then beating them 1-0 in last week's King's Cup final in Valencia.

“We played a great game in Valencia (in the Cup final) but tomorrow is another match. We have to play at our top level and not be influenced by what has already happened,” added Mourinho.

Mourinho, who worked under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barcelona between 1996 and 2000, said it was difficult to predict which side would prevail.

“These are two teams that know each other well, with tradition, with players who know success and what it means to play important games,” he said.

“My opinion is that there are no favourites. In a semi-final with two legs there are no favourites.”

Mourinho said he had quoted Albert Einstein to his players to demonstrate the importance of “will” in sports contests.

“One day he (Einstein) said that the only mechanical force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy is will,” he said.

“That Alberto bloke was not stupid. With will you can achieve things.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, who must contend with a number of injuries, says his players are still optimistic about their chances of reaching next month's Wembley final.

"We are not going [to Madrid] in the best condition but in mental terms we will travel to the Bernabeu with a lot of enthusiasm," he said.

"We accept that Madrid are favourites, they have earned that in the last few weeks, and we'll try to turn that around."

Barcelona are looking frail at the back with left-backs Eric Abidal, Maxwell and Adriano all missing, although influential skipper Carles Puyol and centre-back Gabriel Milito have recovered from injuries in time to play.

Cech: Slump not behind us yet

Petr Cech titles Chelsea mustiness winnings their next three matches before they can say their alarming slump is behind them. The past eight days have seen the Blues record back-to-back victories for the first time in more than two months, with a 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Ipswich followed by a 2-0 Premier League win over Blackburn.

Saturday's victory prompted manager Carlo Ancelotti to challenge hullos players to winnings at Bolton next Monday to prove their miserable run was over. Goalkeeper Cech has gone further, insisting the champions need to extend their winning run into next month before they can forget about their worst sequence of league results in almost 15 years."It was extremely important that against Blackburn we managed to follow the performance from the Ipswich game," the 28-year-old told his official website. "From the beginning, you could see confidence in our play and we converted it into two goals and, thanks to a good defensive play with a thorough approach, we managed to claim the three points."

"Besides the outcome, we were satisfied mainly with our performance and with the way how we reached the win. However, this is just the first step we have made to end the bad streak of results. In order to be able to say, 'Okay, it's beyond us', we need to win four or five games in the style like against Blackburn. That will not be easy, with Chelsea's next three matches all away from home, with Monday's trip to the Reebok Stadium followed by an FA Cup fourth-round clash at Everton and another league game at Sunderland. But the champions know points simply cannot be frittered away if they are to stand any chance of retaining their title, with unbeaten Manchester United seven ahead with a game in hand.

The gap will be ten by the time Chelsea next play if United win this weekend. And Cech is determined to make the most of the mini-break before a potential fixture pile-up between now and the end of the season.

"The rest of the week, we are to be in intense training as this is one of the last, if not the very last, so-called long weeks in the season," he said. "This will allow us to train and prepare properly and be the best possible for the busy schedule of the rest of the season."

Houllier taken to hospital

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has been admitted to hospital after being taken ill on Wednesday night.

The Frenchman, who has been in charge at Villa Park since September, will remain in hospital for the time being and is hoping to be released soon.Former Liverpool boss Houllier was forced to undergo life-saving emergency heart surgery in October 2001 after complaining of chest pains at half-time of the Premier League game with Leeds.

When he took the position at Villa Park, Houllier said he had returned to speak to Dr Abbas Rashid, the man who led the team who performed his 11-hour operation, and was given a clean bill of health.

"When you go into a job you know there will be pressure, that it will be hard work and you won't sleep every night," he said at the time.

"You need to make sure your body is ready. I have checked that. I am much healthier and fitter now than I was before."

Villa have been hovering around the relegation zone in recent weeks, although they have won their past two matches and the club said Houllier had their "total support" as he attempts to guide them to Premier League safety.

Speedy recovery
Villa are due to play host to Stoke at home in the Premier League on Saturday and Potters boss Pulis is hoping Houllier makes a full recovery.

"I think everybody in football would wish Gerard a speedy recovery," Pulis told Sky Sports News. "First and foremost we hope he is well and I am sure they will be looking after him.

"I don't know how bad or how serious it is, but I am sure he will get looked after and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

"Gerard was staying in the same hotel that we stayed in on Sunday before the semi-final and we had a chat and he looked really well

"He looked fine, as bright as a button, and it surprised me when someone told me about him."

The former France coach left Liverpool in May 2004 and had a two-year spell in charge of Ligue 1 outfit Lyon from 2005-2007 before taking a role with the French Football Federation prior to his return to English football.

Wenger would have been fired in Spain - Fabregas

Cesc Fábregas has expressed his reservations about Arsenal's transfer policy and suggested that manager, Arsene Wenger, would have been sacked for his trophy drought if he was working in Spain.

Wenger's Arsenal have won nothing since the FA Cup success in 2005 and this season looks like being another year without silverware for the London club."If you went to Spain and said to [Pep] Guardiola, [José] Mourinho or Unai Emery [the Valencia manager] that they would have three years without winning a trophy, it would be obvious they would not continue [at their clubs]," the Arsenal captain told Don Balon.

"Here, it is different, the manager is intelligent and the club value different things: that the team is always in the Champions League, that we compete until the end, that we have young players, economic stability. For the board, this is important. But I imagine there will be a moment when you have to decide: do you win things or not?

"When I started here, we won the Cup [in 2005] and got to the Champions League final [in 2006]. Barca beat us with an extra man and it was not a victory but it was the first time that the club had got to a Champions League final. Millions of players had played here and it was us that did it.

"But from 2007 on, I started to say: 'We don't win but we play very well.' And after that you realise that it doesn't work. You enjoy it, during a part of the season, like this year when we were in four different competitions and you say: 'Here, I have it all.' But then you cannot make the final step and it is here where a decision has to be made: to go out to win or to develop players."

Fábregas, who joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Barcelona at the beginning of the 2003-04 season, said he had learned from the club's Invincibles [who were unbeaten that season]. But he believes the current side lacked experienced role models.

"I was in a winning team and it was impressive," he said. "You felt that if you had a bad game, nothing happened because your team-mates helped you. Now, a lot has changed, and I am the man that everyone looks to. I don't like to say it but it is true.

"If I play badly, I take responsibility and the pressure of the supporters. Only me and [Robin] Van Persie remain of that generation, and we have a lot of responsibility. Me and Van Persie learned from the best. Now it is different because we are all so young and there is nobody you look at and say: 'Wow.'

"Young players learn from the older ones. Now, it is more complicated. If you put [Jack] Wilshere in the team that played before … it is different. I am not saying better or worse. Before, there were reference points, winning and strong players and playing with them, you learned faster."

Fábregas has been linked over the past two summers with a return to Barcelona and he expects fresh speculation at the end of the current campaign.

"The day that I leave Arsenal, it will be with my head and not just because," Fábregas said. "And who says you will play in your new team? Or that you will develop? Here, I have a lot of luck on a personal level – despite not winning a lot – and I am doing very well.

"I speak with [the Barcelona captain Carles] Puyol, who says that he didn't win a thing until he was 26. Patience and hard work are the most important things in life. You will not see me [convinced by an ambitious project]. And if one day I leave Arsenal, it will never be to sign for another English club. That is for certain."

Zanetti wants Mourinho back

Inter captain Javier Zanetti has said the club should welcome back Jose Mourinho amid speculation of a shock return to the San Siro.

Mourinho led Inter to Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia last season, but they have struggled since his departure under Rafael Benitez and Leonardo. Mourinho has said he will remain at Real Madrid next season "unless the press sacks" him, but his future may ultimately be determined by the forthcoming Copa del Rey and Champions League clashes with Barcelona after Saturday's 1-1 draw in El Clasico all but ended their hopes of winning the league.

Stories of a return to Inter have appeared Italian press, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that Mourinho has pre-enrolled his children at the school they studied in during his time in Italy.

"Leonardo is doing good work and it wouldn't be fair to condemn him for the recent results," Zanetti said after this weekend's 2-0 defeat to Parma, but he added: "The doors of Inter are always open for Mourinho after the extraordinary things he achieved with this club."

Marcello Lippi, who has managed Juventus and Italy across two separate spells, believes a return to Inter could be beneficial for both parties.

He told RAI: "If Mourinho and Inter still hold one another in high esteem, why not? Making a return isn't always a bad idea.

"When I returned to manage the national side [having won the 2006 World Cup], that didn't work out, but before that I'd gone back to Juventus, and I won two league titles and reached the final of the Champions League."

Mourinho recently praised Inter president Massimo Moratti as "an incredible man who shows the football world what a president should be".

Ancelotti would have no complaints if fired

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti concedes he would have 'no problem' if the club decided to fire him at the end of the season.

The Italian's position at Stamford Bridge has been a talking point for a number of weeks, and Wednesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United has merely served to intensify the speculation about his future.

"I don't know what my future is," he said. "At the end of the season, I think the club can decide if they want me to continue or if they want to change.

"If they are not happy, they can change without problem.

"If, at the end of the season, the owner decides my job was not good enough, this is not a problem.

"I will try to do my best, because I want to stay here. If there is a possibility to do that, I will be happy."

Chelsea have only finished a season without a trophy twice under Abramovich's reign, with the Russian tycoon sacking the manager on both occasions.

Ancelotti won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea in his first campaign at the helm, but the Italian admits that achievement has already forgotten.

"Last year is the past," he said. "Everyone was happy to win the double last year but this is the past.

"Obviously, this season was not a good season for us but now we have seven games."

He added: "To speak now about which kind of change the club wants to do for next season about a new transfer or my future is not the right time.

"Every one of us has to try to do the best for the left seven games.

"After that, in the summer, we can speak about this. But to speak now is not the right time."

Abramovich deserves success - Lampard

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard teh club's owner Roman Abramovich deserves success in the Champions League as reward for the way in which he has transformed the club.

Chelsea have won three Premier League titles since the Russian bought the club in 2003, but success in Europe has eluded the London club.
Lampard told the Sun: "Everything I've achieved in the last 10 years has only been achieved in the last 10 years has only been possible because of the owner's investment.

"I never envisaged that we would be winning league titles, competing in the Champions League and fighting on all fronts year after year so quickly. Everything changed when Mr Abramovich arrived in 2003. He has made a huge investment and we are all very thankful.

"I'd be very proud to win the Champions League for a lot of reasons but I definitely understand the thought process that we owe it to him to win it.

"He never sits us down and says 'You must win the Champions League, this is the main thing'. But we all know it would be a fantastic thing to him.

"And he deserves it for all that he has given to the club.''

Chelsea need to overturn a one-goal deficit when they face Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday following a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have endured a difficult season by their own high standards, but Lampard believes the players have rediscovered the form that they showed at the start of the current campaign.

"We started the season so well that no one saw what was coming next," he continued.

"We hit a brick wall and maybe we stopped doing the things which have made us so successful in the past. Whether that was down to over-confidence or whether we slacked off in training, it's hard to tell.

"When I came back from injury I sensed that training wasn't at the level it's back to now and we all have to look at the way we were preparing ourselves.

"As the manager says, we went to sleep for two months and now we've woken up and we're trying to make it another successful season.

"If that doesn't happen, we know we're going to get criticised because people have high expectations of Chelsea - and that's only right.

"We have to perform at our best and take faith from the way we've won at Old Trafford before. If we do that we're capable of going through to the semi-finals."

Gavin Beech is tipping Man United to finish the job against Chelsea in their Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg tonight…

Kroenke to launch Arsenal takeover bid

Chelsea are a best price 11/4 to qualify as they head to Man United 1-0 down for their Champions League 2nd leg…

Stan Kroenke has confirmed he has increased his stake in Arsenal to 62.89% as he embarks on a takeover of the club.

The American, who already owned 29.9% of the club, has agreed deals to buy shares owned by Danny Fiszman and Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith.
The deal sees Kroenke acquire the 16.1% owned by Fiszman and Lady Bracewell-Smith's 15.9% stake to increase his holding to 62.89%.

As a result of passing the 62% threshold under stock market rules, a takeover bid would be triggered and he has agreed terms for the purchase of the remaining shares which values the club at £731million.

Terms have also been agreed for Kroenke Sports Enterprises to buy up the remaining share capital at a cost of £11,750 a share.

Kroenke said in a statement to the Stock Exchange: "We are excited about the opportunity to increase our involvement with and commitment to Arsenal.
"Arsenal is a fantastic club with a special history and tradition and a wonderful manager in Arsene Wenger.

"We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success. I am delighted that Peter Hill-Wood has agreed to support us by continuing as chairman.

"We especially wish to acknowledge and thank the board, Danny Fiszman and the Fiszman family as well as Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and her family for the confidence they have had in me over the past years and in allowing us to move forward in this more prominent role."

Most of the remaining shares left for Kroenke to purchase are held by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

Usmanov does not have a seat on the Gunners board but owns 27% of Arsenal's holding company.

Arsenal heritage
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger welcomed the news of the takeover bid.

"I have worked with Stan Kroenke at board meetings over the past couple of years and I believe he has the best interests of Arsenal at heart," said Gunners boss Wenger.

"He understands the club's heritage and traditions and our ambition to run the club in a way which protects our long-term future."

Arsenal chairman Hill-Wood, who initially opposed Kroenke's involvement in the club, also backed the takeover.

"The board of directors and I consider it a key responsibility to protect the ethos and spirit of the club," he said.

"Mr Kroenke, although relatively new to Arsenal, has shown himself to be a man who values and respects the history and traditions of this very special club that we cherish.

"We are confident that he will be a safe custodian of its future."

"At this time of transition I would like to pay particular tribute to Danny Fiszman for his immense contribution. Danny's vision and drive led the relocation to our new stadium, an historic move which will benefit the club and its many passionate fans long into the future.

"I would like to pay tribute to the important and long-standing role that the Bracewell-Smith family have played in Arsenal's history. The family have been staunch supporters of the club for over 70 years and the club is significantly indebted to them for the role that they have played in its development and success. We will be considering appropriate ways to mark this long and valued contribution."

World against Chelsea - Terry

John Terry has suggested that Chelsea's defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday proves the world is against them winning the Champions League.

The Blues feel they have been victimised in recent years in Europe, with controversial decision going against them in defeats to Liverpool and Barcelona.Terry and his team-mates believe they were denied a clear penalty in the closing stages of Wednesday's quarter-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Ramires went down under Patrice Evra's clumsy challenge only for Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco to wave play on.

"I was saying to the lads afterwards that it's us versus everyone," Terry said. "I think that's clear to see over the last few years.

"Only we can change that on the football field and expect nothing from anyone.

"Nothing gets given to you on a plate and it certainly won't be in this competition."

And Terry has insisted Chelsea's players are behind manager Carlo Ancelotti and under-performing striker Fernando Torres as they look to salvage something from what has been a disappointing season.

"There's been no talk about changing him as far as I'm aware," he said when quizzed about Ancelotti. "The players are 100 per cent behind him."

The same applies to Torres, who has yet to score since his record-breaking £50million move from Liverpool.

Terry said: "It's just a case of getting that first goal, getting that off your shoulders, and then you can move on.

"I was saying to the lads afterwards that it's us versus everyone. I think that's clear to see over the last few years."

"It must be hard as well, people carrying on talking about it. It must be a big weight to carry as well with the fee that he came for.

"But he knows he's good enough to play, the players certainly know he's good enough, and he's got our full support.

"Obviously, there's big competition up front and, with guys like Didier (Drogba) and Nico (Anelka), big rivalry.

"But, at the same time, they get on brilliantly on and off the field. And I think everyone wants to help him, help him settle in and get that first goal."

Gavin Beech has a big price tip for Arsenal's visit to Blackpool on Sunday – see his full preview here…

Mourinho taking nothing for granted

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho insists his side's Champions League quarter-final tie with Tottenham is "not over", despite winning the first leg 4-0.

Real swept aside Premier League outfit whose cause was not helped by the first half dismissal of striker Peter Crouch."I know at this level, 11 against 10, it's almost impossible," added Mourinho.

"But I know the English mentality. With the English concept of football, it's not over."

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho, who is bidding to become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different teams after his 2004 success with Porto and 2010 win with Inter Milan, admitted he felt some sympathy for Tottenham.

"It's just a question of the team with 11 keeping concentrated and we did that in the second half, not in the first half but in the second half we did that," stated Mourinho.

"I feel sorry because with 11 against 11 the match would be much better.

"You just have to defend, if you've got an advantage you defend, defend and defend.

"And if you are already losing and you have to attack, it's an impossible job and I think they will try everything in the second leg."

Despite the scoreline, Mourinho stressed that he was taking nothing for granted at this stage.

"We're not in the semis - last time that Real Madrid played in the quarters we also won at home, 4-2 I think [against Monaco], and then we were out."

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the fourth in the closing minutes with a volley, but the former Manchester United forward warned against complacency in the return leg at White Hart Lane on Wednesday 13 April.

Ronaldo said: "We have to take advantage of this lead because anything can happen and we can't underestimate Tottenham.

"Regardless of the fact that we were playing against 10 men the team played well. It was tough going in the first half but we improved a lot in the second half."

Rooney faces two-match ban

Wayne Rooney faces a two-match ban by the Football Association (FA) for using offensive language during Manchester United's 4-2 win at West Ham.

The United striker swore into a television camera after completing his hat-trick at Upton Park. The England international has until 1800 BST on Tuesday to lodge an appeal against the FA charge.

If he accepts it, he will receive a two-match ban - if he denies the charge his hearing will be on Wednesday.

Rooney apologised immediately after the game for the incident.

The 25-year-old was in earning the three points for the Red Devils as he grabbed his three goals in 14 minutes to help his side come back from 2-0 down.

In a statement released by United on Saturday, the striker said: "I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching.

"Emotions were running high, and on reflection my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular."

United team-mate Rio Ferdinand urged the media to show leniency towards Rooney via his Twitter account on Sunday.

The defender called for newspapers and radio "to give Wayne a break" adding "he knows what he did was wrong".

Ferdinand said he had spoken to Rooney and the United forward was "genuinely sorry".

FA rules state: "A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour."

Spain are now a best price 7/2 for Euro 2012 following the latest round of qualification matches…

Inter discuss transfer targets

Gavin Beech is tipping West Ham to stun Man United at Upton Park in the early kick-off…

Inter sports director Marco Branca has discussed the club's transfer policy for the summer, including a number of possible targets for the European champions.

In addition to a forthcoming Champions League quarter-final tie against Schalke, Inter currently sit second in Serie A, two points off behind rivals Milan, who they meet on Sunday.

Speaking to the Inter Channel, Branca said: "(Udinese's) Alexis Sanchez is definitely a player who we like. But if Udinese only want cash for him it will be hard to take him.

"Gareth Bale? The first time I spoke with the Tottenham chairman about Bale was three years ago, receiving a response that Bale was fine there.

"After three years there are different assessments now, because Bale has proven to be a great player, and today it will probably be hard to think of him.

"A return for Mario Balotelli? Now we are not thinking in any way about him, but in football you never know.

"Lionel Messi has proven over the years he wants to remain at Barcelona. Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund? He is a possibility that we will evaluate at the end of the season."

When questioned on reported interest by Manchester United in Inter midfielder Wesley Sneijder, Branca admitted he was not surprised.

"Our players are doing very well. It's normal to speak of them as targets for big teams," he added.

Liverpool told to sign Asian players

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Liverpool's sponsor wants the club to sign Asian players to help exploit commercial opportunities in the region.

Standard Chartered sponsorship chief Gavin Laws cited Manchester United's signing of Park Ji-sung as an example of reaching out to the lucrative Asian market.

"The real power Liverpool could do for us, and for the Premier League, is if there was a way they could nurture foreign players from Asia," said Laws.

He also stated that the bank wanted Kenny Dalglish to stay as Liverpool boss.

"I'd like to see Kenny as the long term manager - I'm sure the club would," commented Laws.

"They are going to be talking to him if they aren't talking to him already.

"The Kenny magic is all around the world, everybody believes Kenny can take the club [forward] and that means they stay focused and that means they stay in the newspapers around the world... we are looking for brand awareness."

Liverpool signed an £80m, four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered in September 2009. Although the company is based in London, much of its income comes from the Asian market.

Speaking at the SoccerEx conference in Manchester, Laws continued: "The markets in Asia and the Middle East are so nationalistic, they are very proud about their countries.

"One appearance from a player, say from Dubai in the Premier League, and you'd have the whole of Dubai watching it."

"You see what Park Ji-sung does for Manchester United."

Liverpool look unlikely to qualify for next season's Champions League and even a place in next season's Europa League may be beyond their reach. However, Laws believes it was "not that important" if Liverpool missed out on European competition because matches are played when the bank's target audience in Asia is asleep.

He also said that the club's struggles on and off the pitch this season had actually helped his company.

"I would have thought that Liverpool have had more exposure around the world this season than anybody else......without the turmoil at the club there wouldn't have been [the publicity]," he said.

"They are a mid-table team with an outside chance of getting into the Europa League again."