Grant demands focused finish

Chelsea manager Avram Grant fears a lack of concentration may scupper his side’s hopes for silverware this season.

The Blues remain in the hunt for glory both at home and abroad this season, but recently let a 3-1 lead slip against Tottenham in the Premier League and on Wednesday Fenerbahce came from a goal behind to record a first leg advantage in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

And Grant insists his players must begin to focus for the full 90 minutes as the end of the campaign approaches.

“It has happened to us for the second or third time and especially when we play well,” said Grant.

Chelsea, who travel to Manchester City on Saturday, sit second in the Premier League and Grant is keen to add pressure on table-topping Manchester United with three points at Eastlands.

Boro – No feud with Ron

Gareth Southgate has insisted that Middlesbrough have no feud with Manchester United ahead of Sunday’s crucial game between the two clubs.

Talk of a feud arose after Southgate accused Cristiano Ronaldo of diving in the corresponding fixture last season when he fell under a Mark Schwarzer challenge to win a penalty.

Southgate’s accusation prompted United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to issue a withering response and the acrimony did not end there, bubbling over into an FA Cup tie between the two clubs at Old Trafford.

But the Boro boss has now played down the situation, saying it is all in the past and they respect the Portuguese player.

Southgate believes his side have got nothing to fear against a free-scoring United side and will play their natural game.

The Boro boss added: “I want us to start with the same mentality as we finished the game against Chelsea last week. We have shown recently that we can compete against the top teams in the country.

Wenger calls for all or bust

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned his players that their hopes of lifting the Premier League title will be dealt a fatal blow if they lose to Liverpool on Saturday.

The third-placed Gunners welcome the Reds to Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, in a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1, hoping to close the six-point gap on table-topping Manchester United.

Wenger is confident United – who still face trips to Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Chelsea and Wigan in their final six league games – will drop points before the end of the campaign.

But Wenger, who takes his side to Old Trafford on 13th April, insists Arsenal must finish with a 100 per cent record to stand a chance of lifting the Premier League title next month, beginning against Liverpool at the weekend.

Sehwag flays Proteas

Virender Sehwag scored the fastest triple-hundred in Test cricket history as India battered the South African attack on day three of the first Test at Chennai.

Sehwag finished unbeaten on 309 as India piled up 468-1 in reply to the Proteas’ first innings total of 540.

The 29-year-old, who made 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004, became only the third player to achieve the feat of two Test triple-hundreds, alongside Australian Don Bradman and West Indies’ Brian Lara.

Sehwag raced to 300 off 278 balls, surpassing Australian Matthew Hayden’s 362-ball effort when he scored a then world record 380 against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003-4.

The Indian batsman lashed 42 fours and five sixes before nudging paceman Makhaya Ntini for a single to squareleg for his 300.

The Indian star did not offer a chance in an almost flawless innings of 292 balls, as the hosts put themselves in position to put some pressure on the Proteas over the final two days.

He was well supported by Rahul Dravid (65no) in an unbeaten second innings partnership of 255.

India started the day on 82 without loss and Sehwag put on 213 for the first wicket alongside Wasim Jaffer (73), before his fellow opener edged left-arm spinner Paul Harris to Jacques Kallis in the slips to give the tourists their solitary breakthrough.

Dravid then joined him and the man known as ‘The Wall’ lived up to his name, scoring 65 in 181 balls. In the process he took his career tally to 9,985 runs by stumps and needs only 15 more to become just the sixth batsman in history to complete 10,000 Test runs.

Sehwag’s double ton off 194 balls was the third fastest in Test history after New Zealander Nathan Astle’s 153-ball knock against England at Christchurch in 2001 and Sehwag’s own 182-ball innings against Pakistan in Lahore in 2006.

The 55-Test veteran was at his best in the afternoon session when he scored 108 of India’s 133 runs, as the South African bowling wilted in oppressively hot and humid conditions.

It was Sehwag’s second successive three-figure score following a match-saving 151 in his last innings against Australia at Adelaide in January.

On Saturday he will be bidding to overhaul Brian Lara’s Test record score of 400, with India set to bat past the tourists’ total and have a dart at them on day five.

Jose in Inter talks – Reports

Jose Mourinho has been in talks with Internazionale about a return to management, according to his personal advisor Eladio Parames.

The Portuguese has been out of the game since leaving Chelsea last September after his relationship with the Premier League club’s board broke down.

It has been reported that Mourinho has been in Italy on Friday in order to engage in discussions with Serie A champions Inter about becoming their coach next season.

“Jose has left for Milan for talks with Inter’s directors,” Parames spoke.

Current incumbent Roberto Mancini’s future at Inter has been the subject of intense speculation ever since his announcement that he would step-down from his role at the end of the season, following his side’s UEFA Champions League elimination at the hands of Liverpool earlier this season.

He retracted his statement the following day but it would now appear his unexpected announcement may have sealed his fate.

Having made no secret of his desire to manage in Italy or Spain upon leaving Chelsea, it would come as little surprise if Mourinho were to take the reins at Inter.

Mourinho’s hugely successful spell with Chelsea saw him deliver two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.

Ronnie could leave – agent

Ronaldinho’s ’strained’ relationship with Barcelona could see the Brazilian star leave the Spanish giants in the summer, according to the player’s brother and agent Roberto Assis.

The 28-year-old forward’s future at Camp Nou has been the subject of intense speculation over the course of the season as he has struggled for form and fitness.

Milan have been strongly linked with a summer move for the former Paris Saint Germain ace, while Chelsea are also reportedly monitoring his situation.

Ronaldinho came under further pressure when recent scans revealed he was not carrying a thigh injury, despite the player’s claims to the contrary.

And in light of his seemingly eroding relationship with Barca, Assis has revealed that he is considering invoking article 17 of Fifa’s transfer regulations as the value of the release clause in his contract is thought to be prohibitively high.

Article 17 allows players to buy out the remainder of their contract under certain circumstances and would likely prove a cheaper option. 

Owen denies Capello rift

Michael Owen has denied criticising the tactical approach of England manager Fabio Capello.

Reports on Friday had suggested that the Newcastle striker was unaware of his role after being sent on as a second-half subsitiute in Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to France.

However, Owen has refuted these suggestions and insists that his post-match quotes have been twisted to create tension within the national camp.

Owen went on to reveal that this is not the first time that quotes he has given in good faith have been used in a disparaging context to create a misleading story. 

Owen was also keen to point out that it is not in his nature to be openly critical of management structures in public, and insists that he will continue his fight to win back a starting place in the national team. 

Gerrard wants time in new role

Steven Gerrard is confident his England partnership with Wayne Rooney can work, providing the two of them adapt to their roles.

During Wednesday’s lacklustre 1-0 defeat in France, Gerrard was deployed as the support to Rooney, who was playing as a lone striker.

Gerrard has been operating in that role for Liverpool in recent weeks, but was unable to replicate the success of his tandem with Fernando Torres at club level.

But the Liverpool skipper is enjoying his new position on the pitch and feels he can ‘make it happen’ on the international arena.

However, Gerrard also feels that Manchester United forward Rooney will have to tweak his approach for England in order for the partnership to work. 

Bentley – Let battle begin

David Bentley is determined to wrestle a place in England’s first XI away from centurion David Beckham.

Bentley was expected to be given the nod to start on the right of England’s midfield for the 1-0 defeat to France in Paris on Wednesday, but manager Fabio Capello opted to hand Beckham his 100th international cap.

Beckham made way for Bentley in the 63rd minute at the Stade de France as Capello examined all of his options.

And Bentley is now focused on proving that he is the long-term starting solution on the right of England’s midfield.

Barca fight for Assulin

Israeli starlet Gai Assulin is ready to shun English interest to remain at Barcelona.

The 16-year-old midfielder made history on Wednesday evening when he became his country’s youngest ever international when he came on for Yossi Benayoun during their 1-0 win over Chile.

Assulin is one of the leading lights at La Masia – Barca’s youth academy – and is currently featuring for their B side.

Barcelona are determined to hand him an extended contract and a three-year deal is waiting for him but once again the Catalunyan giants are being forced to fend off interest from the Premier League in one of their prized youngsters.

Chelsea and Manchester City are both understood to have made enquiries with his agent Pini Zahavi in recent weeks, and he admits they are amongst the interested clubs – but he also insists Assulin is more than happy at Barca.