Football news

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit feels his old club are paying the price for not playing to their strengths and not having enough proven winners.

Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United means that unless the Gunners can wrestle their rivals from the top of the Premier League, they will have gone six seasons without winning a trophy.

And Petit, who won the league and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1998, thinks he knows why. He said: “Since 2005, and the departures of Vieira, Pires and company, you realise he’s banking above all on a young, malleable team where he can invest in a sporting project.

“Arsenal’s game is a trademark on the pitch but there aren’t really any players with a winning mentality.”

Fergie is going nowhere – Neville

Gary Neville acknowledges Jose Mourinho has the right credentials to replace Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager – but does not expect that day to come for quite some time.

“There are many great managers and there’s always speculation about who’s going to take over from Sir Alex,” Neville said. “I’m sure when the time does come, Mourinho is one of the candidates who will be mentioned because of the success he’s had elsewhere.

“But it doesn’t come into my head at this moment in time as Sir Alex is still going stronger than ever.”

Schalke verdict looms for Magath

The future of Schalke manager Felix Magath will be decided at a board meeting tomorrow after he met with club president Clemens Tonnies on Sunday.

Magath had talks with Tonnies after rumours surfaced that he had lost the support of the board.

After Sunday’s “constructive talk” both Magath and Tonnies have agreed to maintain their silence until tomorrow’s meeting, when Magath will attempt to convince the board to back him.

Despite leading the Royal Blues into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the final of the German Cup, that still appears unlikely due to cracks in his relationship with the fans.

Real will play for 0-0 draw – Aulas

Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas believes Jose Mourinho will tell Real Madrid to target a goalless draw at the Bernabeu tomorrow.

Madrid have a potentially crucial away goal going into the second leg after securing a 1-1 draw at the Stade Gerland, and a 0-0 draw would be enough to take the Spanish giants beyond the second round for the first time since 2004.

“I am sure Mourinho will play for a 0-0, but we will try to qualify and if we do it will be an unprecedented feat,” Aulas told the Lyon website.

“The conditions are not the same as last year, and it will be even harder to go through having drawn at home. We are not afraid of anyone.”

Montella hails evergreen Totti

Roma coach Vincenzo Montella hailed captain Francesco Totti after his brace against Lazio in Sunday’s derby.

“Totti is a great player,” Montella said. “When he is in good condition, he can do great things and we are very lucky to have him.

“Lazio played well but we were very determined and I think the best team won.”

Totti, who had shaken off a thigh injury to recover in time for the game, could not hide his delight.

“I am very happy,” the 34-year-old said after Roma’s 2-0 win.

“To score two goals in the derby and win is a fantastic feeling. It has been a difficult time for us and it was important to get this win.”

Adebayor pleads for Toure leniency

Emmanuel Adebayor has begged the Football Association to take pity on his Manchester City team-mate Kolo Toure.

Although Adebayor is currently on loan at Real Madrid, he has remained in regular contact with Toure and been kept fully updated on the defender’s failed drugs test.

“I know Kolo Toure very well and I know he would never take any drug to help his ability on the football pitch,” Adebayor said.

“It’s more for losing weight. It’s a little mistake.

“Hopefully the FA will manage to see that he’s innocent and he will be back on the football pitch to play again.”

Wembley derby ‘to cost millions’

The FA Cup semi-final Manchester derby at Wembley ‘will cost millions’ to police and will be the most expensive security operation ever for a single game in England, according to reports.

The draw has led to calls for Manchester City and United to be played anywhere but Wembley – with some journalists and fans suggesting that the game be moved to Villa Park.

But cup semi-finals have been held at Wembley since 2008 in order to recoup some of the cost of building the national stadium.

Over 80,000 fans will need to be policed – with the majority travelling down from Manchester on the weekend of April 16-17.

If City reach the Europa League quarter-finals, the game is likely to be moved to the Sunday - which would clash with both the London Marathon and a Premier League clash between Arsenal and Liverpool.