Top News

Soccer News

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-12 07:56

FA Cup

Mancini warns players not to mess up FA Cup final

Roberto Mancini has warned Champions League-bound Manchester City not to take the gloss off its European success by messing up in Saturday's FA Cup final.

Mancini immediately set his sights on securing the club major silverware for the first time in 35 years after overcoming Tottenham 1-0 to seal a top-four finish.

It means City will compete in the Champions League play-offs next season although it could still secure an automatic passage to the group stages should it win its last two league games and finish above third-placed Arsenal.

Mancini said he was thrilled for City's supporters after making it into the Champions League.

But the Italian has told his players not to undo all the hard work by losing to Stoke in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

"I am happy because qualifying for the Champions League was our first target," said the former Inter Milan manager.

"We deserve the Champions League because we have been in the top four for most of the season. I'm very proud because City supporters are very happy. This is for them. I'm happy personally. It's important to have a target and we have achieved that target."

Spanish league

Ronaldo hat-trick delays Barca title party

Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) scored a hat-trick to make it an incredible 36 league goals in the current campaign as Real Madrid defeated local rival Getafe 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday to prevent Barcelona from winning the league title for at least one more day.

If Real had failed to win, Barcelona would have been crowned champions without playing, but Pep Guardiola's side needs a point from its final three matches, with Wednesday's match at Levante the first opportunity to collect a third successive league crown.

The league may seem lost, but Ronaldo has his own agenda to become the league's top scorer and followed up his quadruple against Sevilla last time out with a hat-trick.

The Portuguese star is now in the box seat to win the Pichichi crown for the league's top scorer with his 36-goal haul taking him five goals ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo is now within sight of the all-time Pichichi record, which is held by Real Madrid's Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez and Athletic Bilbao legend Telmo Zarra who scored 38 goals in 1990 and 1951 respectively.

Italian Cup

Palermo stuns Milan to reach final

Palermo kept its dream of a first ever piece of silverware and a place in Europe next season alive by beating newly-crowned champion AC Milan on Tuesday to reach the Italian Cup final.

Giulio Migliaccio and a Cesare Bovo penalty gave the Sicilians a 2-1 win on the night in the semifinal, second leg and a 4-3 aggregate success following a 2-2 draw in Milan three weeks ago.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled a goal back for Milan deep into injury time.

Palermo will face either holder Inter Milan or Roma in the final on May 29, in what will be its third Cup final.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Palermo coach Delio Rossi, who was sacked in late February only to be reinstated five weeks later.

"I told the president (Maurizio Zamparini) that I would come back, but first I had to talk to the team," said Rossi.

"I told the lads that we had to roll up our sleeves and take Palermo to the heights.

"It's a great group built on good values, a historic group.

"Over the 180 minutes we deserved to go through."

Agence France-Presse