English Champions Manchester United

Manchester United winning the record 19th title in English Premier League under Manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Edwin Van der Ser making a Fabulous save

Manchester United former goal keeper Edwin Van der Ser making a acrobatic save against title rivals Chelsea

Gabriel Agbonlahor Celebrating

Aston Villa striker celebrating with his home crowd after scoring a goal at Villa Park against Everton.

European Champions Barcelona

Barcelona won the Champions League finals against Manchester United in 2011 and the team is celebrating the victory with the trophy.

Real Madrid's Kaka Penalty

Spanish giants Real Madrid match against Athletic Bilbao and playmaker Kaka scoring a goal from the penalty spot.

Sep 14, 2011

Ferguson: Wayne Rooney is United's Pele



Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has echoed the club's fans by labeling Wayne Rooney the white Pele.

It has been sung by the Stratford End for a few years now, in gratitude of the 25-year-old's status as a player of special talent.

And, in responding to an observation from Benfica manager Jorge Jesus that Rooney is "more Brazilian or Argentinian" than English in the way he plays the game ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League clash with United at the Stadium of Light, Ferguson made his own comparison.

"Look at Pele," said Ferguson. "He was a very aggressive attacker as well who could look after himself. So can Rooney. There are similarities that way in strength, speed and determination.

"But he is white, completely white."

In fact, The Scot thinks of Rooney as the very best of British, boasting the same aspiration, work ethic and talent as United legends of old.

"Wayne is a typical British player. But there have been British players who have great qualities that made them great players.

"(Paul) Gascoigne, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law.

"The similarities are that the boy has great courage. He wants to play all the time. He has incredible stamina. These are added extras to the talent he has."

That talent has been on show to great effect so far this season, as Rooney has found the net eight times in four Premier League games, leaving him just three adrift of his tally from last year.

Jesus has been watching the England striker closely. And he is adamant Rooney has no peer in his native land.

"Rooney is the best British player so far," he said.

"But he plays like an Argentinian or Brazilian. He can decide a match in the last third of the field. We will have to pay great attention to him."

Andres Iniesta ruled out for a month



Barcelona play maker Andres Iniesta will be sidelined for around a month after suffering an injury during the UEFA Champions League clash with AC Milan.

Iniesta hobbled out of the match at the Nou Camp in the 38th minute to be replaced by former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and subsequent tests have revealed the Spain international suffered a hamstring tear.

The 27 year-old is now set to be out of action for around four weeks, according to a statement on the Barca website, and he joins summer signing Alexis Sanchez in the treatment room.

Alexis suffered a thigh injury against Real Sociedad on Saturday and will be missing for around two months.

The news about Iniesta adds injury to insult for the European champions after they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to be held 2-2 by Milan in their opening Group H game on Tuesday at Nou Camp.

Balzaretti to join French Club next season



Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed that full-back Federico Balzaretti will join French side Paris Saint-Germain next season.

Balzaretti has been linked with a move to the French big spenders ever since Leonardo's appointment as general manager at PSG earlier this summer.

"Federico asked me to be transferred to PSG and I would like to make him happy," said Zamparini. "Leonardo has already asked me about signing him for some time but I told him that, until the end of the season, he will remain with us.

"Meanwhile, we will begin to search for his replacement."

The Italy international joined Palermo from Fiorentina in 2008 and is under contract with the Sicilian giants til 2013.

UEFA Champions League Tuesday Night match Results

David Luiz after scoring the opening goal of the match

Grp E: Chelsea 2-0 B. Leverkusen
A sparkling goal from defender David Luiz and a late Juan Mata strike secured Chelsea's blushes as they stumbled to victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Group E opener.
Goal Scorers: David Luiz, Juan Mata (Chelsea)

Grp E: Genk 0-0 Valencia

Genk and Valencia shared the points as their opening Champions League clash in Group E finished in a goalless draw at the KRC Genk Arena.
 

Grp F: B. Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal were denied a victory at Borussia Dortmund as an superb volley from substitute Ivan Perisic secured a last-gasp draw for the German champions.

Goal Scorers: Van Persie(Arsenal), Perisic (B.Dortmund)

Grp F: Olympiacos FC 0-1 Olympique de Marseille
Lucho González scored the lone goal of the match as Didier Deschamps' side got their Group F campaign off to a winning start in Greece.

Goal Scorers: Lucho Gonzalez
 

Grp G: APOEL 2-1 Zenit St Petersburg

Apoel Nicosia scored two times in three second-half minutes to come from behind against Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg and open Champions League Group G with a deserved win.

Goal Scorers: Manduca, Aiton(APOEL), Zyryanov(Zenit)

Grp G: Porto 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Hulk made up for missing a spot kick to score a fierce free-kick as Porto started their Champions League campaign with a comeback win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Goal Scorers:  Hulk, Kleber(Porto), Luiz Adriano(Shakhtar Donetsk)

Grp H: Barcelona 2-2 AC Milan

Thiago Silva scored in a stoppage-time to earn AC Milan a battling draw against Champions League holders Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Goal Scorers: Pato, Thiago Silva(AC Milan), Pedro, Villa(Barcelona)
 

Grp H: Viktoria Plzen 1-1 BATE

Renan Bressan's strike denied Plzen a victory as they had to be content with a point in their Champions League debut against BATE Borisov.

Goal Scorers: Bakos(Plzen), Bressan(BATE)