Transfer Zone

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» Date	Player Name	Country	To	From	Type
5/31/11	Vincent Gragnic Midfielder		CS Sedan Ardennes	Stade de Reims	Full Ownership
5/31/11	Loic Puyo Midfielder		Amiens SCF	AJ Auxerre	Full Ownership
5/31/11	Herve Bazile Striker		Amiens SCF	EA Guingamp	Full Ownership
5/31/11	Didier Zokora Midfielder		Trabzonspor	Sevilla	Full Ownership
5/31/11	Okan Alkan Defender		Kayserispor	Fenerbahce	Loan
5/30/11	Bruce Abdoulaye Defender		FC Metz	Clermont Foot	Free Transfer
5/30/11	Rubén Defender		Osasuna	Mallorca	Full Ownership
5/30/11	Veselin Minev Defender		Antalyaspor A.S.	Levski Sofia	Free Transfer
5/30/11	Ivan Perisic Midfielder		Borussia	Club Brugge	Full Ownership
5/29/11	İlhan Eker Defender		Kayserispor	Fenerbahce	Full Ownership
5/29/11	Serdar Kesimal Defender		Fenerbahce	Kayserispor	Full Ownership
5/29/11	Mehmet Seyfettin Sedef Midfielder		Gençlerbirliği SK	Konyaspor	Free Transfer
5/28/11	Mathieu Duhamel Striker		FC Metz	ES Troyes Aube Champagne	Full Ownership
5/28/11	Mathieu Duhamel Striker		FC Metz	ES Troyes Aube Champagne	Full Ownership
5/27/11	Taşkın Çalış Striker		Gaziantepspor	Mönchengladbach	Free Transfer
5/27/11	Ali Kuçik Striker		Gençlerbirliği SK	Besiktas	Full Ownership
5/27/11	Kamil Zayatte Defender		İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor	Konyaspor	Free Transfer
5/27/11	Yasin Pehlivan Striker		Gaziantepspor	Rapid Wien	Free Transfer
5/27/11	Michael Klukowski Defender		V. Manisaspor	Ankaragücü MKE	Free Transfer
5/27/11	Ali-Azouz Mathlouthi Goalkeeper		RC Lens	RC Strasbourg	Full Ownership
5/27/11	Oguchi Onyewu Defender		AC Milan	Twente	End of Loan
5/27/11	Burak Kaplan Midfielder		Besiktas	Leverkusen	Full Ownership
5/27/11	Tanju Kayhan Defender		Besiktas	Rapid Wien	Full Ownership
5/27/11	Veli Kavlak Midfielder		Besiktas	Rapid Wien	Full Ownership
5/27/11	James Vaughan Striker		Norwich	Crystal Palace	Full Ownership
5/27/11	Johan Elmander Striker		Galatasaray	Bolton	Free Transfer
5/27/11	Mustafa Pektemek Striker		Besiktas	Gençlerbirliği SK	Full Ownership

EXCLUSIVE: Spurs willing to sell Modric and Bale

Tottenham are willing to cash in on star playmaker Luka Modric at the right price - but would only allow Gareth Bale to leave for a staggering £50million.
The north Londoners have so far been adamant that the 25-year-old Croatian is going nowhere amid interest from Chelsea and, more significantly, Manchester United.
But privately, MirrorFootball understands, they would allow Modric to leave if they were to receive an offer of £20m-£25m from a Champions League club.
The revelation is eye-catching, given that they themselves paid £16m for him three years ago and also given that the club are going to be battling to break back into the top four.

Barcelona ready to bid £30million for Fabregas

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has launched this summer's attempt to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.
Guardiola has urged sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and president Sandro Rosell to go all-out to sign Fabregas and make Barcelona’s Champions League winners even better.
Barcelona have already agreed a £35million deal to sign Villarreal’s former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi and Guardiola is determined to get Fabregas.
But Barcelona do face a financial struggle to get Fabregas, especially as, even though the Spanish midfielder has made it clear that if he leaves Arsenal then it would only be for the Nou Camp, there is also strong interest from Manchester City.
Arsenal will do everything to rebuff Barcelona’s interest, which is likely to start around the £30m mark, but there is a feeling that if a huge offer, of around £50m, came in then they might be tempted to do business.
City boss Roberto Mancini’s admiration of Fabregas has already been documented, and their wealth could force the player's value up - and leave Barcelona struggling to compete.
Amid Barcelona’s Champions league final celebrations, veteran defender Carles Puyol made it clear the players want the club to sign Fabregas.
“I am convinced that Cesc will soon be playing with us,” he said.
Guardiola wants to make it happen as well, as he looks to make the best even better, and Zubizarreta and Rosell are now set to begin their operation to try and land Fabregas.
It would represent another attempt by Barca to keep Guardiola happy, as the coach dropped hints after their Wembley win that he may quit in a year’s time.
Rosell is determined to keep his coach and ensure Barcelona win more silverware.
Guardiola would be a target for Chelsea and Manchester United in the future, while 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar want to make him a megabucks offer to be national-team boss.
Rosell added: “Pep is with us and that is for sure. The money will not change his decisions.”

This Drog is for life

Didier Drogba is set to be offered a new, improved deal to finish his career at Chelsea.

The striker had been tipped to leave this summer after the £50million club record signing of Fernando Torres.
But a Blues insider said: "As soon as the new coach has been appointed one of the first things that will happen is that Didier signs a new extended deal.
"There's no way the club want him to leave - he's one of the best strikers in the world."
Torres' dismal form - just one goal in 12 games - means the Ivory Coast star, 33, is indispensable.
The insider added: "Can you imagine the outcry if Didier was sold and Torres continues to struggle? The decision's been made - it's better to keep both."
Drogba, who has a year of his current £130,000-a- week deal to run, has been linked with a switch to Real Madrid or Spurs.
Now he is on course to land a pay rise and an extra year to take him through to 2013.

Pardew to offer Berba New start

Newcastleare in the hunt to sign Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian striker wants out of Manchester United after his shock Champions League final snub.
And Toon boss Alan Pardew is ready to meet United's £7.5million valuation.
Pardew is in the market for a big-name striker after Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for £35m in January.
Berbatov, 30, won the golden boot this season along with Manchester City's Carlos Tevez after hitting 20 league goals.
But he did not even make the bench for Saturday's Euro decider against Barcelona.
Now he wants a club where he is regarded as the main man and not down the pecking order.
Berbatov, who cost United £30.75m in September 2008, has always liked Newcastle having idolised Toon legend Alan Shearer when he was a boy.
The former Tottenham star did not travel home with United after his Champions League final axing.

He did, however, turn up for the club's victory parade through Manchester yesterday to celebrate their 19th league title.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have landed French midfielder Yohan Cabaye from Lille for £4.3m.
Cabaye, 25, confirmed the switch to St James' Park after Toon triggered a release clause in his contract.
He will sign a four-year deal in the north-east after Newcastle beat the likes of Valencia, Aston Villa and Lyon to his services.

Pep Guardiola to leave FC Barcelona for Chelsea FC job next year?

Chelsea could be prepared to wait twelve months to appoint Pep Guardiola as manager after the Spaniard revealed he will leave Barcelona when his contract ends at the end of next season

After guiding Barca to another Champions League trophy on Saturday night with a 3-1 win over Manchester United, 41-year-old has confirmed he will honour the 12-month contract extension signed earlier this year.

But Chelsea have been alerted by Guardiola's comments that he is ready to leave Spain at the end of next season.

That could lead to owner Roman Abramovich looking to appoint Guus Hiddink as Carlo Ancelotti's successor on a short-term basis.

Hiddink enjoyed a successful three-month spell as caretaker manager in Spring 2009, leading the club to the FA Cup before going on to take charge of Turkey's national team.

The 64-year-old hinted last week that he is ready to return to club management with the Blues, but it may well be that he is now appointed on yet another short-term role - possibly with the option to move into a director of football role should Guardiola move to Stamford Bridge in 2012.

"I have another year on my contract and I intend to work it out," Guardiola was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. "You have girls falling at your feet when you win but that can change overnight.

"I feel privileged to have these players. Everyone has worked towards this. We are very happy.

"But I have to look inside me. I am happy to be here as coach of these guys, but it is not an easy job.

"In England it can be 25 years, in Spain it is impossible. They are different ways. For him [Alex Ferguson, boss of beaten finalists Manchester United] to be manager for 25 years and create new teams and new teams, he has my admiration. I know it is difficult.

"If you play this football [like Barcelona], you need these players. At another club maybe I would have a problem to find these kind of players."

Baggies expect Odemwingie to stay

West Bromwich Albion have revealed they are confident of securing striker Peter Odemwingie on a new deal.

The prolific forward has enjoyed a stunning debut season in the Barclays Premier League after arriving from Lokomotiv Moscow last summer, notching up 15 goals and a string of impressive performances for the Baggies.
The 29-year-old Nigeria international has a year remaining on his current contract at the Hawthorns plus a further year's option in Albion's favour, but has inevitably attracted attention from elsewhere.
However, the Baggies have opened talks with Odemwingie and his agent over an extension of his existing deal, and sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth is optimistic of keeping him when negotiations resume later this summer.

"We have spoken to Peter and we have spoken to Peter's representatives," Ashworth said.
"We know where they are and they know where we are and I don't foresee any great problems in sorting out a new contract.
"Things have been held up because all of the relevant parties are away.
"But once we can get everybody together I'm optimistic we'll be OK."

Puyol to go under knife

Spain and Barcelona defender Carles Puyol will go under the knife on Wednesday for a knee operation after an injury-ravaged season, the club said today on their website.

Puyol had to miss the UEFA Champions League last-16 return match against Arsenal in early March and only returned in mid-April to face Real Madrid only to suffer further injury.

He did feature against Real in the Champions League semi-finals but started the final win over Manchester United on the bench and played just the final three minutes.

The 33-year-old club stalwart, three times a Champions League winner, will have the operation at the Quiron clinic in the Catalan city.

Entertainers Lille earn just desserts

Attacking football won out in Ligue 1 this year as champions Lille brought their spectacular style of play to bear on a division often seen as overly defensive. Les Dogues kept supporters entertained as they bore down on their first championship crown in 57 years, the longest period of time between titles in French football history.

Less consistent than last season, Marseille were unable to repeat their feats of 2009/10 but can at least console themselves with a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage after finishing second. Behind the outgoing champions, Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain contested a fierce tussle to secure third spot, which was ultimately claimed by Claude Puel’s side.

Competition was similarly intense at the bottom of the standings, with two monuments of the French game unable to save themselves from the drop. Salhi Goal.com looks back over a fascinating campaign in Ligue 1.

The champions‘Droit au but’ (Straight to the goal) may be Marseille’s club motto, but it could easily have been tailor-made for Lille this season. The northern outfit won numerous admirers for their adventurous approach last term without reaping any rewards, and they carried on in the same vein after the summer. Applying a similar philosophy and boasting almost the same set of players, Lille held off their rivals in real style to wrap the title up with time to spare.

Coach Rudi Garcia must take much of the credit for the triumph, having modelled his 4-3-3 formation on Barcelona and used it to similarly devastating effect. On the pitch, Eden Hazard emerged as the team’s true leader at just 20 years of age, and his contributions proved not just spectacular but relentlessly effective. Moussa Sow played a full part too, helping himself to 25 goals in his first season at the club, while Côte d'Ivoire winger Gervinho sparkled once again and captain Rio Mavuba held everything together in midfield. So impressive were Lille, in fact, that they added the French Cup title for good measure.

European places
Out of sorts at the start of the campaign, Marseille never really settled into the rhythm that took them over the line in first spot last term. With Lucho Gonzalez unable to find top form and Andre-Pierre Gignac lacking his usual golden touch in front of goal, OM’s senior players failed to shine, putting the onus on promising youngsters such as Andre Ayew and Loic Remy to get them out of trouble.

For Lyon, it was a campaign to forget, though the club could let out a sigh of collective relief after the last ball was kicked. Les Gones had to wait until the last match of 2010/11 to secure third place and a Champions League play-off berth, meaning they will return to Europe’s premier club competition for a 12th consecutive season. That they escaped disappointment owes much to the exploits of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and the winning mentality of Lisandro Lopez, who hit form at just the right time.

In fourth, Paris Saint-Germain proved incapable of keeping up their momentum from the early part of the season, when Nene was a dynamic presence. The capital club eventually began slipping away as their participation in various cup tournaments took a toll, and they could face a similar conundrum next year as they return to the UEFA Europa League. Sochaux and Rennes will be joining them after they finished fifth and sixth respectively, both sides deserving their place for their solid and promising campaigns.

Also of note
Supporting one of France’s leading lights can often be a trying experience, and so it proved again this year, even if Marseille, Lyon and PSG were able to save face at the end. Their fellow big guns fared less well and it was an especially difficult season for Bordeaux, champions as recently as 2008/09. Stuck in mid-table for long periods, they never looked likely to trouble the high-flyers and came in as low as seventh. As for Auxerre, they could not build on their excellent showing last time out and just about escaped relegation on the final day.

Monaco failed to pull clear, on the other hand, and their 2,000th outing in the elite ended with a 2-0 loss to Lyon that spelled demotion to Ligue 2 for the first time since 1977. Despite their always fervent support, former giants Lens will spend next season in the second tier as well.

The big namesEntertaining, effective and decisive, Eden Hazard and Gervinho thrilled the Lille faithful this term, but it was prolific forward Moussa Sow who profited most from their work going forward. The Senegalese international topped the scoring charts with 25 strikes, winning his private duel with Lorient marksman Kevin Gameiro, who signed off with 22.

Although Nene practically dragged PSG into the upper echelons in the opening months of the season, his defensive colleague Mamadou Sakho put in consistently eye-catching performances from start to finish, earning himself the title of Best Young Player in the process. That honour could equally have gone to Marseille’s explosive attacking midfielder Andre Ayew or Sochaux youngster Marvin Martin, whose 17 assists helped his club book their European ticket and recently brought him a first France call-up.

Ups and downs
Arles-Avignon are set to return to Ligue 2 only a year after sealing promotion, and will get to grips with their new surroundings along with Lens and Monaco. Travelling in the opposite direction will be Ligue 2 champions Evian-Thonon, the newcomers climbing a division for the second year in succession to continue their astonishing ascent. Corsican outfit Ajaccio are likewise on the move and will be rediscovering the elite after five years away, while Dijon will look to 23-goal Uruguayan striker Sebastian Ribas to ease the adaptation process.

The stat
7 – A record seven sides headed into the last round of action desperate to avoid the one remaining place in the drop zone. Nancy, Brest, Valenciennes, Caen, Nice, Auxerre and Monaco all possessed between 44 and 46 points ahead of the weekend, with Monaco ultimately falling through the trap door.

At a glance
Top six
1 - Lille, 76 points (Champions League)
2 - Marseille, 68 (Champions League)
3 - Lyon, 64 (Champions League play-offs)
4 - PSG, 60 (Europa League)
5 - Sochaux, 58 (Europa League)
6 - Rennes, 56 (Europa League)

Top scorers
1 - Moussa Sow (Lille), 25 goals
2 - Kevin Gameiro (Lorient), 22
3 - Lisandro Lopez (Lyon), Gregory Pujol (Valenciennes), Youssef El-Arabi (Caen), 17

Swansea City promoted

Swansea City will become the first ever Welsh side to play in the Barclays Premier League.

The Swans clinched promotion by beating Reading 4-2 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Scott Sinclair scored a hat-trick which included two penalties with Stephen Dobbie getting the other goal. Noel Hunt and Matt Mills gave Reading hope with second-half strikes.
It was a sweet moment for manager Brandan Rogers who had left the Berkshire club in December 2009 after a poor run of results.
And it was a just reward for his team who had finished third in the table, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion behind Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.
Swansea were consistently in and around the play-off positions for most of the season, thanks largely to a strong home record.
They were beaten just three times at the Liberty Stadium, winning 15 of their 23 fixtures in front of their passionate fans.
Fired by 19 goals from midfield by Scott Sinclair on loan from Chelsea, the Swans enjoyed a strong campaign.
While QPR always looked destined to take top spot, the race for the other automatic spot was much closer.
Swansea climbed to second in February on the back of four successive wins but by mid-April they had slipped back to fifth, behind Reading.
However they finished with a flourish winning their final three fixtures, scoring 10 times and conceding just once.

emotional reunion

That was enough to secure third place on goal difference from neighbours Cardiff City and prompted dreams of an all-Welsh final at Wembley.
Swansea did their part drawing 0-0 with 10 men at Nottingham Forest before winning the return leg 3-1 but Cardiff were beaten 3-0 on aggregate by Reading.
That set-up an emotional reunion with the Royals for Rogers who had the last laugh on his former employers.
Their Wembley triumph means Swansea will become the 45th different side to play in the Premier League.
It will be their first spell in the top division since 1983 when they dropped out of the old First Division.
Under manager John Toshack, the south Wales side had enjoyed a fairytale rise from the bottom division, winning promotion in three out of four campaigns between 1978 and 1981.
Their debut season at the highest level began with a remarkable 5-1 home win over Leeds United and included wins over Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Toshack's team topped the table on numerous occasions but they could not maintain the momentum and finished sixth.

bade farewell

Their subsequent demise proved as rapid as their climb. The following season saw them suffer the first of three relegations in four years as they returned to the fourth tier.
Beset by financial problems, they were wound up in December 1985 but were saved by local businessman Doug Sharpe.
By 1986 the Swans were back where they had started, just eight years after their first promotion under Toshack.
In 1988 they won promotion via the inaugural play-offs and spent eight years in the third tier before suffering relegation in 1996.
They climbed back in 2000 as Division Three champions but came straight back down.
Amid behind-the-scenes turmoil, the struggling Swans narrowly avoided relegation to the Conference on the final day of the 2002/03 season.
A year later they finished 10th before winning promotion the following season as they bade farewell to their old Vetch Field ground to move to the Liberty Stadium in the summer of 2005.
They lost the League One play-off final in 2006 but won the League One title in 2008 under the shrewd stewardship of Roberto Martinez who left for Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2009.
Under Paolo Souza they finished seventh, missing a play-off place on the final day of the 2009/10 season.
Souza's subsequent departure saw Rogers installed and he made an immediate impact guiding the Swans into the Barclays Premier League at his first attempt.

Reading 2-4 Swansea City

Swansea City won promotion to the Barclays Premier League by beating Reading at Wembley.

Scott Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, scored a hat-trick which included two penalties as the Swans became the first Welsh club to win promotion to the Premier League.
Brendan Rogers' side looked to have it wrapped up at half-time when they led 3-0 but the Royals hit back to make it 3-2 before Sinclair wrapped up victory 11 minutes from time.
It was billed as the richest match in world football with an estimated £90m prize awaiting the winners of the final place in the Barclays Premier League for the 2011/12 campaign, writes Graham Hiley.
Swansea City had finished third in the Championship while Reading were fifth. The Swans had beaten the Royals twice in the league but that counted for nothing in this dramatic finale to the campaign.
Reading began brightly with Shane Long hustling the keeper who had to kick clear in panic and then Mikele Leigertwood almost forced home from close range as the Welsh side struggled to clear Jimmy Kebe's low ball from the right.
Mills was penalised for a foul on Sinclair to give Swansea a 20-yard free-kick just to the left of the D but Fabio Borini's shot was deflected over for a goal-kick.
Griffin was booked for a foul on Sinclair and referee Phil Dowd urged both sides to keep their tempers in check on such a massive occasion.

Swansea score

However Borini was then booked for a foul on goalkeeper Adam Federici and Zurab Khizanishvili had his name taken for his heated reaction.
Swansea  took the lead on 20 minutes when Nathan Dyer was upended in the penalty area by Khizanishvili and Dowd pointed to the spot. Scott SINCLAIR, on loan from Chelsea, sent Federici the wrong way rolling the ball into the bottom left corner.
Within a minute Swansea had doubled their advantage. Dobbie sprinted past Ian Harte to reach the byline to the right of goal. He pulled the ball back into the danger area and although Federici got a touch, the ball fell for SINCLAIR to slot home from six yards.
Noel Hunt sent a diving header inches wide from a Harte corner as the Royals tried to hit back.
McAnuff was booked for a foul before Swansea stretched their lead still further on 39 mnutes with a similar strike.
This time it was Dyer who sprinted down the right and his low ball in was half-cleared by Khizanishvili straight to DOBBIE who fired home first-time from 12 yards.
From close range, Long failed to connect cleanly with the goal at his mercy in the final minute of the first half.
In stoppage-time Leigertwood had a 20-yard blast beaten out by Dorus De Vries.
Reading substitute Jay Tabb was sent off at half-time while Royals assistant manager Nigel Gibbs was sent to the stand, both for dissent.
Half-time: Reading 0-3 Swansea City
Reading gave themselves a lifeline three minutes after the break as Noel HUNT stooped to head home Jobi McAnuff's left-wing corner at the near post.
Dobbie wriggled into the box but played the ball across the face of goal before making way for Pratley on 55 minutes.
Kebe got in on goal but Monk blocked well but from McAnuff's resulting left-wing corner Matt MILLS powered home a header to set up a grandstand finish.
Reading piled forward with renewed heart and Karacan struck the base of the right post with a low 25-yard drive on the run.
As the Swans began to steady themselves, Reading sent on Welsh striker Simon Church for Hunt 15 minutes from time. Swansea responded with Gower for Britton.

second penalty

Swansea won a second penalty with 11 minutes on the clock. Tate intercepted and broke forward, slipping the ball through the inside left channel for Borini who nicked it away from Griffin before being fouled.
Again Dowd pointed to the spot and SINCLAIR completed his hat-trick. Although Federici got a hand to the spot-kick, he was beaten by the power.
Mills had an effort bundled wide as Reading tried to hit back again. Hal Robson-Kanu came on for Griffin as the Royals gambled on attack.
Swansea sent on Moore for Allen with a minute to go. Leigertwood headed over from a corner in stoppage-time.
Although Reading pressed to the end, Swansea hung on to become the first Welsh side to reach the Premier League and give manager Brendan Rogers revenge against his old club.
Reading: Federici, Griffin (Robson-Kanu 83), Mills, Khizanishvili, Harte, Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, MCanuff, Hunt (Church 75), Long. Subs: Tabb, Howard, Cummings, Pearce, McCarthy (gk).
Swansea: De Vries, Rangel, Williams, Monk, Tate, Sinclair, Allen (Moore 89), Britton (Gower 75), Dyer, Dobbie (Pratley 55), Borini. Subs: Beattie, Serran, Richards, Ma-Kalambay (gk).
Referee: Phil Dowd. Attendance: 86,581

Elmander joins Galatasaray

Galatasaray have signed Johan Elmander following the striker's recent departure from Bolton Wanderers.

Elmander left the Reebok Stadium last week after deciding to take on a new challenge rather than extend his time with the Barclays Premier League club.
The Sweden international had been widely tipped to join Galatasaray and he has now finalised his switch to Turkey on a three-year deal after passing a medical.
Meanwhile, Elmander's former strike partner Kevin Davies has wished the 29-year-old well following their three seasons together at Bolton.

"It's difficult for Johan and I think he found it frustrating during the first couple of seasons because he never really got firing," Davies said.
"I'm not too sure how he found his time here, whether he had a happy time or not. But this season he's been asked to play in numerous positions and he always gave his all.
"His stats are always really high and he's scored a few good goals. It hasn't quite worked out for him but then I've been on a big move like that and it hasn't quite worked out.
"He's a great lad and the gaffer speaks very highly of him because of his work ethic and what he brought to us, so we wish him well."

Ferguson focused on catching Barca

Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson maintains he's not "afraid of the challenge" of trying to catch Barcelona.

The challenge has been laid down - and Ferguson intends to spend his summer holidays working out what to do about it.
Ferguson has never been scared of a challenge.
In the aftermath of Manchester United's record 19th league title he spoke about his willingness to face the threat to his side's domestic supremacy posed by Manchester City.
On Saturday night in the Champions League final at Wembley, Ferguson encountered a problem of a different kind.
In previous meetings with Barcelona there has always been an explanation.
Three years ago it was the story of United's sensational defending in keeping two clean sheets in the narrowest of semi-final wins on the way to Moscow.
Twelve months after that, Ferguson could point to his team failing to turn up in Rome.

They turned up on Saturday night. At times they implemented his game-plan to perfection. They even scored.
Ultimately though, United were reduced to chasing shadows, overwhelmed by one of the greatest sides to play the game, containing the best player in the world and two more from the top five.
"Finding a solution is not easy but that is the challenge," said Ferguson in the wake of the 3-1 defeat.
"You should not be afraid of the challenge.
"The one thing we have shown is that we are consistent in Europe. We have got better and better over the past few years.
"Maybe this could be the kind of stepping stone we had when we lost 4-0 (to Barcelona in 1994).
"We improved from that. We want to improve. Next season may see us improve even more."
Not that it is Ferguson's problem alone.
"We all have a challenge with Barcelona, not just Manchester United," he added.
"It is not any consolation to say you are the second best team. We don't enjoy being second best.
"Any club with the history we have; Real Madrid, AC Milan, would say the same."

Kean warns Diouf

Steve Kean has warned El Hadji Diouf he will have limited opportunities at Blackburn Rovers next season.

Diouf is due to return to Ewood Park in the summer after spending the second half of the season on loan with SPL champions Rangers.
The 30-year-old helped Gers to the title and has previously hinted that he would be keen to remain at Ibrox on a permanent basis.
He currently has a year left on his contract at Blackburn and it is uncertain whether he will be offered the chance to join Rangers following Craig Whyte's takeover.

However, if he is unable to secure a permanent exit from Blackburn, the Senegal attacker will find himself on the fringes, according to Kean.
The Blackburn manager said: "He's going to find himself a bit further down the pecking order as far as starting goes. I don't know if that will suit him."
Diouf joined Rovers in a £2m deal from Sunderland in January 2009 and has scored four goals in 62 appearances for the club.

Campbell hoping to stay strong

Sunderland's Fraizer Campbell says keeping a positive frame of mind is key as he battles a serious knee injury.

The striker re-injured his cruciate ligaments at the beginning of April having only just returned from seven months out with the same problem.
The former Manchester United youngster faces most of next season on the sidelines after a re-repair of the joint and is currently in rehabilitation while his team-mates enjoy their summer holidays.
"It's been a few weeks since the operation now," he said. "I'm back at the start now, like last time, and I have to work hard and get my knee back to how it was.
"There's a million different ways to do rehab - the staff are great and are switching things up to keep me sane.
"Some days we're on the (Nintendo) Wii, other days in the pool, just keeping it fresh so I don't get bored or downhearted.
"The biggest part of rehab is always in your head - obviously having to come back and do it all a second time is going to play on my mind but hopefully I can stay strong.
"I've not set any targets. At the moment I've got the leg brace on which will come off in a week, so after that I'll start back on the bike.
"Looking for a potential return date drives you crazy so I don't want to do that."

Enrique confirms Roma coaching talks

Barcelona B team coach Luis Enrique has confirmed he has spoken to Roma about their managerial position. The former Barça and Spain midfielder has been linked with the post which is widely expected to be vacated this summer by Vincenzo Montella, and the Catalan giants' coach Pep Guardiola claimed last week he would be "perfect" for the job.

Luis Enrique told Sky Italia today: "I have had contact with the Roma directors. It's an attractive proposal. I know that they have several options at their disposal, as have I. Before making a decision, I must carefully ponder every aspect."

The 41-year-old has been in charge of the Barça B team for three seasons since succeeding Guardiola in 2008.

Tottenham in £40million race for Rossi

Barcelona will beat Tottenham to the signing of former Manchester United reserve Giuseppe Rossi in a staggering £40million deal.
The Champions League winners hope to tie up the stunning move for Villarreal’s Italian international striker in the next couple of weeks and dash Spurs’ dreams.
Rossi was the target of a £32million offer from Tottenham in the last window and supremo Daniel Levy was holding out hope that the forward would say yes in the summer.
However, Barca have now opened talks with Villarreal over their prolific forward, who has grown in stature since leaving Old Trafford as a kid, and they expect to get their man shortly.

Arshavin’s Gunner stay

Andrey Arshavin has vowed to beat Arsene Wenger's axe and stay at Arsenal next season.

Arshavin, 30, said: "The manager wants to continue working with me."
Attacking midfielder Arshavin, who skippers Russia, is training with his old club Zenit St Petersburg ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Armenia on Saturday.
Wenger, under pressure because of Arsenal's failure to win a trophy since 2005, has threatened a clear-out - and Arshavin could be a target.
But the player has brushed aside speculation that he could move to Russia, Turkey or Spain

Brunt tips McAuley to make impact

Chris Brunt has backed his Northern Ireland team-mate Gareth McAuley to make the grade at The Hawthorns.

The Northern Ireland central defender signed a three-year deal with the club last week and will officially join on a Bosman free transfer on 1st July.
Midfielder Brunt believes the former Ipswich Town and Leicester City defender has what it takes to make an impact in his first season in the Barclays Premier League.
"I think the internationals in March did him the world of good when he played against Serbia and Slovenia," Brunt told the club's official website.
"He moved to England pretty late in his career. I think he was about 26 when he came over from Northern Ireland.
"It's not too often players come over so late in their careers but he's improved as he's moved from Lincoln to Leicester and then to Ipswich.
"He's a proper centre-half, he's aggressive and he gets his fair share of goals as well.
"It's a good signing for the club.
"Anytime I've played with him for Northern Ireland he's done really well.
"When you play for Northern Ireland there are always spells when you're under pressure and he's shown he can defend properly.
"I'm sure under Roy Hodgson he'll improve as a defender as well, especially with the work we do in training."
www.wba.co.uk

Barça return home to fanfare

Barcelona's Europe-conquering heroes paraded in an open-top, double-decker bus through cheering, packed streets and arrived to a roar of welcome at a bursting Camp Nou stadium.
Brandishing the UEFA Champions League trophy from their sublime 3-1 victory over Manchester United in London's Wembley stadium yesterday, players made a victorious entry one by one to their home pitch. The bigggest cheer from the 98,000-capacity crowd erupted for man of the match Lionel Messi, who scored the second goal.
"Actually, I have nothing to say to you," said the Messi, famed as a man of few words. "Simply, let's enjoy all this. Thank you for this season. And I hope we will be able to enjoy a lot more."
French international Eric Abidal, who has recovered from surgery to remove a liver tumour only two months ago, thanked captain Carles Puyol for allowing him the honour of receiving the trophy in Wembley. "Thanks to the captain for his gesture. It was the best day of my career," Abidal said.

Thank you for this season. And I hope we will be able to enjoy a lot more.

Lionel Messi, Barcelona forward

Defender Gerard Pique chose the venue to hit out at a slew of allegations against the team in the past season, some made by arch rivals Real Madrid, who they defeated to take the league title. "We don't take drugs. We don't take dives. And we don't buy referees. We just play football," said Pique.
The team had arrived in Barcelona from London just a few hours earlier. Accompanied by the deafening blast of Brazilian samba music and cheered by thousands of fans under a baking hot sun, the heroes weaved through the city in their bus, decked out in Barcelona's red and blue and the word "Champions" on the sides.
Wearing t-shirts emblazoned "CHA-MPI-ONS", coach Joseph Guardiola and his men were driven past the city's statue of Chrisopher Columbus, thronged with fans, some clinging on to the memorial for a better view. A few paces in front of the bus, Catalan mounted police paraded in red full-dress uniform.