Wary Evra warns against second leg 'disaster'

Patrice Evra knows at first hand the damage complacency could do to Manchester United's bid to reach the Champions League final and he has warned his team-mates to avoid a "disaster".

Only a heavy defeat to Schalke at Old Trafford next week can end their hopes of playing in a third final in four years after their 2-0 win over the German side in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday night.

It seems highly unlikely yet Evra knows the improbable can sometimes turn out to be possible, as his own career shows.

"In football you never know,'' the France defender said. "I remember playing for Monaco in the 2004 quarter-final and we played in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid and lost 4-2. Real thought they were going into the semi-final. They thought they were there already. But in the second leg we won 3-1 and went through.''

Evra believes that tie provides a valuable lesson and will ensure his team-mates do not get too far ahead of themselves and start dreaming of a Wembley date with either a Real Madrid side containing United old boy Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona, who gave them a footballing lesson during the 2009 final in Rome.

"We have to be as professional next week as we were last night and keep going,'' Evra said. "We have to win at Old Trafford. But I must say if we don't go through to the final now then it would be a disaster for Man United.''

Providing United retain the same mentality, Evra is certain they will make it. Certainly, there was little evidence last night of a team capable of going to Old Trafford and making a game of it, even if the 5-2 win at Inter Milan in the previous round shows what Schalke are capable of.

"We just have to do our job,'' Evra said. "We are very near to the final now but we have to complete the task we have started. I am not surprised we did well and the game was one-sided because we showed Schalke so much respect. We respected them a lot. Before the game we just said we play the semi-final and that it didn't matter who our opponents were. That was important in playing the way we did.''

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Arsenal Striker Passed Fit To Play Against Blackburn

Emirates hero will lead the line in crucial match against Ewood Park club.

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie has shaken off a knee injury and is fit to play against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow.

The 27-year-old picked up the knock playing for Holland in the 5-3 victory over Hungary.

He scored his country’s first goal but came off before half-time and was considered a doubt for this weekend’s Premier League action.

But he, along with Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Theo Walcott (ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (ankle), Alex Song (knee) and Abou Diaby (groin) are all fit to return.

The only bad news for manager Arsene Wenger is that Aaron Ramsey (groin) and Denilson (toe) will sit out the game at the Emirates.

“He’s (van Persie) alright. He will be in the squad,” Wenger said.

“It was a kick on his knee, but he had a test this morning and felt alright. If he has no reaction overnight he should be OK.

“I am an optimist so always I hoped it would not be too severe. That was the case – for once we had good news.

“We all [hold our breath] because it’s the final part of the season and losing a player now is basically losing them for the rest of the season.

“We are in the final sprint for the championship so we want all our players available.

“We have available again Diaby, Fabregas, Song, Walcott. They are all back in the squad,” added Wenger.

“Out is still Denilson and the long-term injuries like Djourou, Fabianski and Vermaelen of course.”

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Santos chief warns Neymar against England

Chelsea failed with a bid to sign Neymar, 19, from Santos last summer but retain an interest in the player and Carlo Ancelotti was present at Emirates Stadium on Sunday as the forward netted both goals in a 2-0 victory over Scotland.

Neymar has said it would be his "dream" to play for the Blues and, after his starring performance in England on Sunday, said: "The stadium is great; the pitch is, too. The weather I don't like all that much, but I could get used to it."

Oliveira, though, feels Neymar would struggle to play his natural game if he moved to a Premier League club.

"Playing in England is not the same as playing at [Santos' stadium] Vila Belmiro," he told ESPN. "It is much worse, because of the climate and the style of football, which he is unaccustomed to.

"We have demonstrated that, as he has developed into a player who represents the best of Brazilian football - being audacious, skillful, effective, attacking - he is going to become a key figure in the history of Brazilian football.

"He is going to gain international recognition, and maybe get chosen as the best player in the world, playing in Brazil. This is something that hasn't happened since Pele's day, and he has a golden chance."

Neymar has indicated that he has no plans to force a move from Santos in the imminent future. "I am happy there and, when the time comes, God will make me take the right decision and things will happen," he said.

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Lampard: I feared the axe against Wales

Frank Lampard has accepted that he will no longer be an automatic choice for England following the emergence of Jack Wilshere and the performance of Scott Parker against Wales.

Lampard started against Wales in Cardiff, scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot, but there had been speculation that he would be left on the bench in favour of Manchester City's James Milner.

The Chelsea star, who skippered the side in Denmark last month, is well aware that he may not be a fixture in the side in the future, especially when Steven Gerrard is available again.

Lampard, who turns 33 in June, said of the speculation about his role at the Millennium Stadium: "With England, that happens. I've been around a long time and been lucky enough to be very regular, and I tried not to let it concern me.

"We don't get the papers in there but I was aware of the talk. It's a good squad, a strong squad, and never for any minute should any player be resting on their laurels about getting picked. That's it.

"I'm 32 now and have been around a long time. So it wasn't a sleepless night. I obviously want to play and contribute, so I tried to work hard in training and try and give my best all the time."

Lampard praised the performance of his midfield partners in Wales.

"Scott [Parker] carried on doing what he does for West Ham," Lampard said. "He's been fantastic at that all season and the benefit of having an extra man in midfield showed itself.

"The three of us in there, particularly in the first half, allowed us to really get a grip of the game. I think it's nice. It allows you to get a bit more forward. It allows you to get tighter in midfield and, you know, sometimes it's not that easy.

"We played Denmark in a friendly and, sometimes, when there are people behind you, you can't always commit to getting tight to their deep-lying midfield players. There was the bonus today of having the extra man in there to allow us to push in tight.

"We won that game early with our performance. We had a plan to press up high, win the ball back quickly and not let them play, and that worked completely. They couldn't get out of their own half much, especially in the first half an hour, and that's where the game was won: being 2-0 up from there.

"The atmosphere was brilliant. They wanted to use that atmosphere to inspire their players and, when you've got that behind you, it does inspire. But, as the team coming here, you have to let it inspire you too.

"We had to win this and it was a game that, on paper, we should have won even if it was not going to be easy. We did it. With Switzerland coming up, if we can win that game as well, we'll put ourselves in a strong position."

Meanwhile, John Terry praised new central defensive partner Michael Dawson, who he believes fully deserves his chance in international football.

But Terry feels the centre-half has reaped the benefits of playing Champions League football after recovering from his injury setbacks.

Terry said: "There is a lot of competition at centre-back but Michael has made the position his own really. In the Champions League he has been really good for Tottenham this season and maybe that is the key for him as well.

"Playing in the big competitions against the big players can only help anyone as a player. Michael has certainly done well in the last couple of games for England.

"There were some real positives to come out of it again. Ashley Young, I thought again was superb, Scott Parker and young Jack Wilshere also did well."

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Levein eyes historic win against Brazil

Scotland head coach Craig Levein is targeting a first-ever victory for the national side against Brazil in Sunday's friendly.

The game at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium will be the 10th meeting between the nations, with Brazil boasting seven wins, while there have been two draws.

"Our intention is to go out and win the game," Levein told BBC Scotland.

"We've been setting milestones and I take great encouragement from our recent performance against Spain."

Scotland lost 3-2 to the world champions Spain at Hampden in October but have kept two clean sheets in recent back-to-back 3-0 victories over Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland.

Our intention is to go out and win the game

Brazil's squad includes Inter Milan's Lucio and Maicon along with David Luiz of Chelsea and Barcelona's Daniel Alves.

Meanwhile, Levein has denied lifting a ban on alcohol at the team's Spanish training camp.

"That's not what I said," remarked Levein. "What I said was that the players had an opportunity to relax.

"I'm in a position with this group of players where there is mutual trust. I didn't mention alcohol at all.

"I've got to trust that these are professional athletes who know how to look after themselves.

"And I've not had any situations to concern myself with."

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Scott Parker put on brave face for West Ham against Tottenham hours after father's death

22 Mar 2011 - 01:07:48

Scott Parker played for West Ham against Tottenham on Saturday just hours after his father passed away. Parker's father, Mick, died on Friday evening after failing to recover from major surgery after a long illness. The midfielder dedicated his goal against Liverpool last month to his father, to whom he was very close, and Mr Parker was at Upton Park to see his son score in West Ham's 3-1 win. Brave: Scott Parker shone against Tottenham just hours after his father died Parker has been an inspirational figure for West Ham this season and his determination to play in the 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane on Saturdaylunchtime is further evidence of his importance to Avram Grant's side. Courage: Jack Collison showed similar strength in 2009 A West Ham source said: 'It just shows you the measure of the man. Our thoughts are with Scott and his family at this difficult time.' Parker, 30, is still expected to link up with the England squad laterthis week to prepare for Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales. West Ham striker Carlton Cole expressed his respect for Parker on Twitter. He wrote: 'Gotta say i admire players like Scott Parker & Jack Collison for reasons that are bigger than football! Family is such a precious thing!' Collison's father, Ian, died in a motorcycle accident on his way to watch his son play against Tottenham in August 2009. The midfielder, now 22, also played for West Ham in the Carling Cup against Millwall just two days later. Russia's top goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev kept a clean sheet for Zenit StPetersburg on Monday, four days after his wife was killed in a car crash.  Tottenham 0 West Ham 0: So what IS the problem with Van der Vaart?West Ham boss Grant charged by FA over outburst at Stoke refereeSuper Scott scoops player of the month prize as Wenger is named top bossAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion  Explore more:People: Carlton Cole, Jack Collison Places: Liverpool, United Kingdom, Wales, Russia

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