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19 April 2003

FA Premier League

19 April 2003
Manchester United [ 3 : 1 ] Blackburn Rovers

Schmeichel wants to manage United

Schmeichel said: "I've dreamed about being manager of United. In anything you do you have to set yourself a big goal. Yes, I would like, in time, to be associated with that club again. And being manager is the only way it is going to happen. They are a club I've supported all my life - although that could also be a bad thing - and they represent the best of everything in football."

Manchester United have strongly denied rumours linking David Beckham with a £38 million move to Real Madrid.
A Sunday newspaper report claimed that a secret deal was "virtually done" to take the England captain to Madrid in the summer.

But a United spokesman said: "We can categorically deny that any deal is in place to sell David Beckham to Real Madrid. David will be a Manchester United player next season."

Madrid president Florentino Perez said: "There has been a series of unfounded rumours, but it has not entered the head of anyone at Real Madrid that Beckham could play for us next season."

Could the two be
playing on the same
team soon?

Both sides led at various times on an evening of sustained drama which also saw Arsenal defender Sol Campbell sent off for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solksjær - a decision which could rule the England international out of the FA Cup final against Southampton FC on 17 May, as well as the climax to the league season.

Arsenal suffered a blow before a ball had been kicked after goalkeeper David Seaman, who made his 1,000th senior appearance last weekend, went down with flu and was replaced by Stuart Taylor.

As expected, Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira overcame an injury worry to lead the side, albeit with his injured right leg heavily strapped. Meanwhile Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Gilberto Silva all returned to an Arsenal side that showed five changes from Sunday's FA Cup semi-final win against Sheffield United FC.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson decided to stick with the side that thrashed Newcastle United FC 6-2 at the weekend - which meant that England captain David Beckham was left on the bench, with Solksjær playing wide on the right. United skipper Roy Keane passed a late fitness test to ensure his place in the starting lineup.

The early stages of the game were keenly contested, particularly in midfield, and the first chance did not arrive until the ninth minute when United's Paul Scholes rose above a static Arsenal defence only to send his header well wide of Taylor's right-hand post. Arsenal responded with a dangerous-looking charge from Henry, but Keane did well to intercept his cross just as the United defence looked like subsiding.

United looked the more potent side though and nearly took the lead after 21 minutes but Ruud van Nistelrooij's clipped shot from a Scholes flick landed on the roof of the net. Three minutes later the Dutch international made no mistake though.

After collecting a pass from Ryan Giggs, Van Nistelrooij accelerated down the left flank away from Campbell and then Martin Keown before deftly lifting the ball over the onrushing Taylor to give the visitors the lead and register his 19th league goal of the season. Arsenal suffered a further blow before the interval when a recurrence of Vieira's injury problems forced him out of the game.

The second half was a frenetic affair. Arsenal drew level in the 51st minute when Henry, somewhat fortunately, deflected Ashley Cole's scuffed shot through the legs of United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

Eleven minutes later Arsenal moved 2-1 ahead when Gilberto's pass released Henry and the prolific Frenchman finished calmly to register his 21st league goal of the season. However within 60 seconds United were back on level terms after Solksjær's cross was headed past Taylor by Giggs.

Campbell received his marching orders in the 82nd minute, somewhat souring the last few minutes of an entertaining game which leaves United three points clear at the top, although Arsenal still have one game in hand.