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Manchester United are the English Champions. They won their own game on Saturday and Chelsea needed to win on Sunday to keep the title race alive. They didn’t, and it isn’t.
United travelled across town to face Manchester City. City’s Michael Ball was in the spotlight on three occasions: early in the game he stomped on Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portuguese forward was on the ground (worth a red card but it wasn’t shown), then he tripped the same player to give United a penalty on 34 minutes (CR scored from the spot – his 17th of the season), and ten minutes from time he was fouled by Wes Brown in the area (Darius Vassel’s penalty was blocked by goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar’s legs). City haven’t scored at home since January 1st, and on this form, it’s quite understandable why.
United’s players, coaching staff and fans were ecstatic after the game because they knew they were within touching distance of the trophy … but Chelsea were still in with a mathematical chance of catching them; all they had to do was beat Arsenal to keep their hopes alive. But the result of this game was also influenced by a penalty; just before the break, Khalid Boulahrouz brought down Júlio Baptista, and Gilberto scored from the spot. Boulahrouz was sent off, putting Chelsea at an extra disadvantage. Essien’s header 20 minutes from time re-launched Chelsea, but they couldn’t find the net again and the draw wasn’t enough.
Alex Ferguson didn’t want to watch the game, but couldn’t help himself and saw the last 15 minutes: “My heart was in my mouth”, he said. Chelsea coach José Mourinho was gracious in defeat but proud of his own team: “I have to congratulate the Champions”, he said, adding: “My players are heroes … The season was magnificent.” The two teams meet at Stamford Bridge in the week in what is now an academic question. But they meet again in the FA Cup Final on May 19th, a chance for Chelsea to get some revenge.
It’s United’s first title since 2003, their 16th in their history and their ninth under Sir Alex Ferguson. Chelsea’s hopes of four trophies in the season have been shot down in flames in a dismal week that also saw them knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool.
Liverpool lost at Fulham, a result that allowed Arsenal to draw level with them on points and dragged Fulham out of trouble … for the time being. West Ham’s win at home to Bolton, Wigan’s home defeat to Middlesbrough and Sheffield United’s 0-3 defeat at Aston Villa keep the struggle to avoid the drop open.
Liverpool and Arsenal are assured of a Champions League place, while the teams in 5th, 6th, and 7th will go into the UEFA Cup; Everton look practically there, with Bolton, Reading, Portsmouth, Tottenham and Blackburn fighting it out for the other two spots.
Blackburn got a good 2-0 win at Newcastle, who are in no-man’s land in the table … and that’s not good enough for a club with the ambitions of the Magpies: manager Glenn Roeder has left (whether he resigned or was sacked is in doubt), and former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is rumoured to be in line to take over.
Celtic, already Champions in Scotland, have had a really poor end to the season, aggravated on Saturday when they lost 0-2 to eternal rivals Rangers. The result confirms Rangers’ runners-up place in the table and a place in the final qualifying round for the Champions League next season.
by Phil Town
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