Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

Ronaldo announced his arrival at Euro 2008 with a goal and an assist

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another as Portugal won their second successive match.
Portugal went ahead on eight minutes when Deco scrambled the ball past keeper Petr Cech at the second attempt.
The impressive Libor Sionko headed in from a corner to equalise but Ronaldo restored the lead with a low drive and then set up Ricardo Quaresma to tap in.
Turkey's last-gasp win over Switzerland in the late match confirmed Portugal qualification for the quarter-finals.
Portugal's victory continued the trend so far in the tournament of every game being won by the team that scored first.
And it was a deserved victory for a Portugal team that improved after the interval and overcame a Czech side that responded to their coach's demand for them to improve after their unconvincing win over Switzerland.
The Czechs started well, looking far more purposeful than they had on Saturday, with winger Sionko giving an early warning of his pace and trickery. But it was Portugal who struck first when Deco scrambled the ball home at the second attempt after Cech had almost smothered it at his feet.
With both sides lining up with five men in midfield and each with a lone striker, the first goal might have killed the game - and no team had yet drawn level after falling behind in the tournament.
But the Czechs showed creditable resilience, as well as fluidity about their play, to claw their way back into the match.
And when the impressive Sionko, who had the beating of Paulo Ferreira all game long, won a corner after an excellent mazy run, the Czechs forced their equaliser.
From the set-piece, Sionko finished what he had started with a diving header that powered past keeper Ricardo.
Parity restored, the game entered a scrappy phase, with Portugal attempting to force the pace but a combative Czech back line standing firm.
As a result, it forced long-range efforts from Petit, Ronaldo and Deco but those that were on target caused Cech little trouble.
For the Czechs, Milan Baros threatened briefly to revive his excellent form of four years ago but generally he looked as potent as the sluggish Jan Koller, the man he had replaced in the starting line-up.
After the break, Portugal attempted to dictate the tempo but found their opponents in determined mood to get back in the game.
Sionko narrowly failed to find Baros with a cross as the Czechs pressed for an equaliser.
And as the game swung from end to end, Deco played in Simao but Cech was equal to his shot.
The next chance came the way of the Czechs, when Tomas Ujfalusi's flick-on somehow evaded Sionko and Baros at the far post.
But a minute later Portugal regained the lead when Ronaldo clipped in a low shot from just inside the box.
Still that did not end the Czechs' resistance and they were close to making it 2-2 when Sionko's header was tipped over the bar by Ricardo.
However, it was Portugal who had the final say when Ronaldo broke quickly and squared the ball for Quaresma to slide it into an empty net.
Portugal will now have even more of an incentive to go as far as possible in the tournament after coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was named as the new Chelsea manager during the Switzerland-Turkey match.

Squads,Goals & Referees
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Galasek (Koller 73), Sionko, Matejovsky (Vlcek 68), Polak, Plasil (Jarolim 85), Baros.Subs Not Used: Blazek, Zitka, Kovac, Fenin, Sverkos, Pospech, Kadlec, Sivok, Skacel.
Booked: Polak.
Goals: Sionko 17.
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho (Fernando Meira 74), Ronaldo, Deco, Simao (Quaresma 80), Nuno Gomes (Hugo Almeida 79).Subs Not Used: Quim, Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Veloso, Nani, Postiga.
Booked: Bosingwa.
Goals: Deco 8, Ronaldo 63, Quaresma 90.
Att: 30,000
Ref: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

Portugal 2-0 Turkey

Pepe opened the scoring in the 61st minute

Portugal's Euro 2008 campaign opened in impressive fashion with victory over Turkey in Geneva.
Pepe opened the scoring after 61 minutes, surging from defence to beat Turkey keeper Volkan Demirel after a slick exchange with Nuno Gomes.
Portugal deserved their win, with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the post from a first-half free-kick and Gomes twice denied by the woodwork after the break.
And Raul Meireles slid home the second in injury time after a flowing move. Portugal were runners-up in their own country to Greece four years ago, but this vibrant performance was a clear statement that they intend to go one better this time around.
Turkey, with former Sheffield United midfield man Colin Kazim-Richards prominent, were always in the game but lacked a crucial cutting edge.
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and Ronaldo were finally able to put the speculation that has provided the backdrop to their Euro 2008 build-up behind them and get on with the action.
Scolari continues to be linked with the vacancy at Chelsea, despite his insistence that he will not discuss his long-term future until after the tournament.
And Ronaldo's Manchester United future continues to be the subject of daily debate as Real Madrid maintain their pursuit of the man who played a pivotal role in the Premier League and Champions League to Old Trafford.
Portugal dominated a lively opening 45 minutes in which they were unlucky not to take the lead. They thought they had taken the lead in the 16th minute when Pepe powered a header past Turkey keeper Volkan Demirel from Simao Sabrosa's cross, but the celebrations were cut short by a linesman's flag. Ronaldo had been quiet in the early stages, but he burst into life on the half-hour with a trademark run that ended with a shot that was pulled disappointingly wide.
He came within inches of giving Portugal the lead eight minutes before the interval, but a dipping 25-yard free-kick from an angle was brilliantly turned on to the post by Volkan.
The woodwork denied Portugal again four minutes after the break when referee Herbert Fandel played an excellent advantage when Gokhan Zan flattened Simao, but Gomes flicked the loose ball against the post.
Ronaldo then tested the excellent Volkan again with a precise low finish after escaping the attentions of Hamit Altintop, but the Turkey keeper was once more equal to the task.
Turkey had shown great resilience, but they were broken after 61 minutes thanks to a moment of real adventure from central defender Pepe.
He surged forward and played a slick exchange with Gomes before sliding a finish past the onrushing Volkan from 12 yards.
Portugal had played some wonderful flowing football - but fortune was against them again as they almost doubled their lead three minutes after Pepe's strike.
Ronaldo curved in an inviting cross from the left, and Gomes rose only to see his header bounce off the bar to safety.
It was his final contribution of the game as he was quickly replaced by the more youthful figure of Manchester United winger Nani.
Turkey had battled manfully, but they had shown little as an attacking force, although Portugal keeper Ricardo had to be alert to come off his line and deny Middlesbrough's Tuncay as he tried to get in on the end of Nihat Kahveci's cross.
Substitute Emre Asik wasted Turkey's best chance with nine minutes left, heading Nihat's corner wide when unmarked only eight yards out.
And as Turkey pushed forward, Portugal broke to add a second in the dying seconds as Ronaldo found Joao Moutinho, who set up substitute Meireles for a side-footed finish.

Squads,Goals & Referees
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco (Fernando Meira 90), Simao (Raul Meireles 82), Nuno Gomes (Nani 68).Subs Not Used: Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Hugo Almeida, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Quaresma, Veloso, Postiga.
Goals: Pepe 61, Raul Meireles 90.
Turkey: Demirel, Altintop (Senturk 76), Cetin, Zan (Asik 55), Balta, Kazim-Richards, Emre, Aurelio, Erding (Sarioglu 46), Sanli, Nihat.Subs Not Used: Rustu, Zengin, Topal, Karadeniz, Metin, Gungor, Turan, Boral, Akman.
Booked: Kazim-Richards, Zan, Sarioglu.
Att: 31,000
Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany).

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic

Substitute Vaclav Sverkos scored the winning goal for the Czech Republic

Substitute Vaclav Sverkos gave the Czech Republic a winning start to Euro 2008 with a second-half strike that broke Switzerland's resistance.
Alexander Frei was twice denied by Petr Cech before the Swiss captain was forced off injured and Hakan Yakin headed a chance wide after the break.
On 70 minutes Sverkos slotted in a low volley from 12 yards after latching on to a ball over the top of the defence.
The Swiss were denied an equaliser when Johan Vonlanthen's volley hit the bar.
And it might prove that the width of the woodwork could be the end of the Swiss, with tough matches against Portugal and Turkey to come in Group A.
Realistically, the tournament's co-hosts needed to get something out of their opening game and they started as though they were absolutely determined to.
After three minutes, the Czechs gave the ball away cheaply in midfield but Frei dragged his shot wide and failed to capitalise. That should have been a wake-up call to the Czechs but they appeared in no rush to raise their tempo.
As a result, Switzerland - unfancied in the group - grew in confidence and stroked the ball around but with little cutting edge.
A weak effort from Gokhan Inler was indicative of their toothless attacks until that point.
Frei, though, looked the liveliest player on the pitch and, despite having no help from his struggling strike partner Marco Streller, he began to cause some problems.

Sverkos scored the first goal of the tournament to beat Switzerland

It took a decent stop from Cech to deny him the opening goal of Euro 2008 after he had latched on to a long clearance from his own keeper.
Frei followed that up with a 30-yard shot that Cech opted to use his fists to clear, despite there being little sign of the any movement from ball.
Sadly for Frei it would prove to be virtually his last contribution to the match as he later hobbled off after a jarring challenge. The Czech Republic had already started showing signs of waking from the slumber before then and, with crisp passing and better movement, were dictating the play.
But their final ball was awful and up front, giant striker Jan Koller looked slow and cumbersome.
After the break the Swiss brought on Hakan Yakin for the injured Frei and they started the half positively.
As the Czechs found themselves pinned back, Yakin got himself into the action but was too high with an effort following a free-kick.
But it was clear Yakin was already having more of an impact than Koller and it was no surprise when the Czech Republic's top scorer was replaced by Sverkos. And the Swiss substitute should have opened the scoring when he was presented with a free header but he directed the ball wide the right-hand post.
It was to prove a costly miss when, on 70 minutes, Sverkos finished smartly into the bottom corner after latching on to a ball over the top of the Swiss defence.
Yet Switzerland almost snatched a draw when Tranquillo Barnetta's shot was superbly parried by Cech and Vonlanthen smashed the follow-up against the woodwork.

Squads,Goals & Referees
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner (Vonlanthen 75), Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami (Derdiyok 83), Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Frei (Yakin 46), Streller.Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Jakupovic, Djourou, Huggel, Cabanas, Grichting, Gygax, Spycher, Degen.
Booked: Magnin, Vonlanthen, Barnetta.
Czech Republic: Cech, Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Ujfalusi, Grygera, Plasil, Polak, Galasek, Jarolim (Kovac 87), Sionko (Vlcek 83), Koller (Sverkos 56).Subs Not Used: Blazek, Zitka, Fenin, Pospech, Kadlec, Baros, Matejovsky, Sivok, Skacel.
Goals: Sverkos 70.
Att: 41,000
Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

Inter Milan dismiss coach Mancini

Roberto Mancini originally said he would quit Inter in March

Inter Milan have sacked coach Roberto Mancini, who has been linked with the vacant manager's job at Chelsea.
Despite leading Inter to three successive Serie A titles, Mancini's future had been in doubt since March.
After Inter's Champions League defeat to Liverpool, Mancini said he would quit the club at the end of the season, but changed his mind a day later.
Inter said on Thursday the 43-year-old Mancini was dismissed because of his comments after the Liverpool defeat.
Mancini's exit increases speculation that the Italian could become the next manager at Chelsea following the departure of Avram Grant on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho has long been linked with the Inter coaching job and the former Blues boss is the firm favourite to replace Mancini. Club president Massimo Moratti and Mancini had met on Tuesday, but the club made no comment for 48 hours following those talks.
"FC Internazionale have informed Roberto Mancini that he has been sacked as coach," said the Inter statement.
"In particular because of the comments made by the coach at the end of the Inter-Liverpool match."
Mancini joined Inter in 2004 and as well as those three Serie A titles he also guided the club to successive Italian Cup victories in 2005 and 2006.
On Wednesday Mancini's agent Maurizio De Giorgis told BBC Sport: "He no longer works for Internazionale. He's available for work if he gets a phone call."
Before moving to Inter, Mancini had previously coached Fiorentina and Lazio.

Fifa votes for foreign quota plan

Fifa has voted overwhelmingly in favour of president Sepp Blatter's 'six-plus-five' plan, which would limit the foreign players in a team to five.
Fifa wants to bring in the proposal by 2012/2013 but the European Commission says it is discriminatory and illegal.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is still keen to implement the ruling

FA chief executive Brian Barwick is unconvinced by the strategy and he said: "It's about balance. "We still believe in the meritocracy of players in the team on performance and on ability first and foremost."
The Commission believes a quota on foreign footballers would be incompatible with EU law which allows workers to move freely between member countries.
"We're giving a red card to the rule," said Vladimir Spidla, Europe's Commissioner for Equal Opportunities.
But Blatter is keen to work with the EU and Uefa to make it a reality and he has adopted an approach of "consultation not confrontation", according to the BBC news reporter Phil Mercer. Blatter has backed off his initial intention to take on the EU if necessary to force the plans through.
Bose added that the vote for the quota was a support for it rather than a rule change.
"The congress was very happy in a result of overwhelming majority, with 155 votes in favour and five against. 155 yes and five no," said Blatter after the Fifa congress, which was held in Sydney, Australia.
"It is an overwhelming support to this resolution.
"The Fifa president has asked, together with the Uefa president (Michel Platini), to explore - and explore is not to discuss, it's to go in depth - within the limits of the law.
Blatter has a meeting with the EU on 5 June and he added: "Speaking about it is illegal? For whom? For when? If there is a law, a law can be amended."
John McDonald is a spokesman for the European Commissioner for Sport and he told he does not expect Blatter's ambitions to succeed on this front. "It is a non-starter as far as we are concerned," he said.
"Interestingly the wording that Mr Blatter mentioned this morning at his press conference was that the resolution of Fifa is to explore within the limits of the law the six plus five rule.
"And they can explore as much as they like but unfortunately a six plus five rule is against Community legislation."
Blatter wants to restrict the number of foreign players in teams by the start in the 2010/11 season, with a minimum of four home-grown players.
He added he expects it to grow to six, with a maximum of five foreigners, by 2012/13 - and claims the plan has the backing of key European delegates.
In contrast, the "home-grown players" rule, which is set to be expanded from next season, has received EU backing.
That means four players in a Champions League or Uefa Cup squad must have been developed by the club, with another four having been produced by clubs from the same federation.
To be eligible, a player of any nationality must have been developed by the club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
Jan Figel, EU Commissioner for Education, Training and Youth, said Uefa's proposals did not discriminate against nationality and encouraged clubs to develop their academies.
"Measures which require the top European clubs to preserve quality training structures seem to me to be necessary," said Figel.
"The Uefa rule thus avoids the risk of professional football clubs abandoning training structures."

Capello happy with England target

Fabio Capello believes ambitious targets set for him by the Football Association are achievable.
The Italian is expected to lead England to at least the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup or Euro 2012 as part of the FA's four-year strategic vision.
And despite England's failure to reach Euro 2008, Capello says the targets have not put him under undue pressure.
"We must be positive and my personal objective in every team I have coached was to go to the top," he said.
"I am not under any pressure. It's no problem for me and it's no surprise these targets have been set. I believe that it's important to have these targets and to work towards them.
"We should all be confident of this because the team I have at the moment is capable of reaching these objectives." Capello led England to a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in his first game in charge in February, but this was followed by a lacklustre 1-0 defeat away to France.
Both games were friendlies and the 61-year-old Capello will not get his first taste of competitive action until the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Before then England have further friendlies lined up with the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and the Czech Republic and Capello is likely to continue to experiment as he searches for a permanent captain.
FA chairman Lord Triesman insists the targets, imposed after an extensive review by English football's governing body, are realistic.
"We've got to work fast in order to get into tournaments and get through at least to the semi-finals, preferably win them," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I'm no different from anyone else, I want us to win them, but I want us to at least make the final mix where you are playing the Brazilians or the Italians or where you are really in against the sides at the top.
"It's not only an immediate thing but it's a middle-term thing. Just doing it once wouldn't be good enough."
The FA's review also recommended the appointment of an international performance director and approved plans to have the National Football Centre (NFC) at Burton up and running by 2010.

FA chairman Lord Triesman will not factor in failure

Lord Triesman said that whoever takes up the role of performance director will not be Capello's boss, but will be charged with looking after the teams directly beneath the senior side.
"I want the very best person we can get and my clear preference is for someone who is English, if we can find the right person who can do it," he said.
"We need someone who understands sports performance but I feel strongly that unless that person understands football performance as well, they will not be able to do the job properly.
"The performance director needs to be able to understand what it is among our competitors that makes them so successful. "You look around the world at other countries who have done well tournament after tournament, such as Brazil, Italy and Germany and we have to make sure we learn everything they are doing."
Capello backed plans for the NFC, which he believes will play a major part in the development of talented young players.
"It is important to have a centre, to have a home - a place where we can go back and be together, spend time together, feel the spirit of the shirt we are wearing, regroup and achieve the targets that we want to achieve," he said.
"As we all know, only 38% of players in the Premier League are English.
"But having said, that there are lot of young players at the Under-21 level and younger that are very good so there is plenty of talent."

Man City make approach to Scolari

Manchester City have made the first moves to appoint Luiz Felipe Scolari as their next manager. BBC Sport understands contact has now been made between City and Portugal coach Scolari's representatives in a bid to bring him to Eastlands.

Scolari is Manchester City's top managerial target

City will sack current boss Sven-Goran Eriksson at the end of the season.
Scolari, 59, is believed to be interested in succeeding Eriksson but owner Thaksin Shinawatra is still not certain he will land the Brazilian.Thaksin is believed to want a swift answer from Scolari, with a deal worth a reported £3.2m-a-year ready to be rubber-stamped, but any moves could yet be held up by his commitments to Portugal at Euro 2008.
He has also previously been reluctant to uproot his family from Portugal and cited intrusion into his private life as one of the reasons he rejected the chance to succeed Eriksson as England coach in 2006.
Scolari has two sons who are being educated in Portugal but Thaksin wants to tempt him to the Premier League with a huge financial offer.
City fans have reacted angrily to Eriksson's imminent departure and Thaksin hopes to head off further unrest with a quick announcement that he has captured the man who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.
Despite his treatment at the hands of Shinawatra, Eriksson is willing to lead City on their post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong next week, a source close to the Swede has told BBC Sport.
The source said it was "business as usual" for Eriksson and his coaching team and that no further talks were planned with Shinawatra before the end of the season.

Liverpool 1-0 Man City

Fernando Torres took his tally to 32 goals for the season as Liverpool eased to a win over Manchester City.

Torres has 23 goals in the Premier League this season

Torres left Richard Dunne trailing and angled in a shot to put the Reds ahead just after Martin Petrov's free-kick hit the post at the other end.
The Reds had chances to wrap up the game but Dirk Kuyt's header struck the crossbar and Ryan Babel skied a shot.
City rarely threatened but almost punished the home side only for Pepe Reina to save Benjani's late free-kick.
The visitors had gone into the match with boss Sven-Goran Eriksson expecting to be sacked after the end of the season but he was given firm backing by the club's fans at Anfield.
The away contingent regularly and passionately sung out his name and had Eriksson masks as they showed their support for the Swede in a game that struggled to get going. There was a distinct end-of-season feel to proceedings early on and only a near post Ryan Babel header, which went over, threatened to break the deadlock.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard saw a long range effort power just wide as he was invariably the man trying to cajole his side into a degree of urgency.
The Reds skipper again went close when he forced keeper Joe Hart into a full-length save to tip away his curling shot before Liverpool upped the pace the other side of the interval.
A sublime pass with the outside of the right foot by Gerrard released Torres on goal but he failed to get the bend needed on his shot as he opened up his body and aimed for the far corner.
City then almost caught Liverpool out with a sucker-punch after barely having had an attack worthy of the name. Elano stepped up to take a 25-yard free-kick only to see his effort hit the outside of the post.
The Reds heeded the warning and Torres scored for the eighth league game on the trot at Anfield by bursting past Dunne and shooting through Hart's legs.
Hart was quickly forced into action again as he blocked a Kuyt volley and kept out the follow-up overhead kick from Lucas.
The chances were now flowing for the home side and Kuyt guided a header on to the crossbar before finding Hart with another header when left unmarked eight yards out.
A battling Torres set up Babel for a clear strike at goal from six yards only for the Dutchman to sky his effort as the Reds failed to put the game to bed. At the other end, Reina blocked a powerful Benjani free-kick as City sensed an opportunity to steal a point against their dominant opponents.

Eriksson gives City fans the thumbs up for their support

But Liverpool completed the win as they finished their home league campaign with a record of 12 wins, six draws and one loss at home ahead of their final game of the season at Tottenham.

Stoke 0-0 Leicester

Stoke clinched promotion to the Premier League as Leicester went down to the third tier of English football for the first time in their 124-year history.
In a first half wrought with nerves, Ricardo Fuller came closest when Paul Henderson made a superb double save.
Henderson denied Fuller after the break but Gareth McAuley's header hit the post as the Foxes poured men forward.
Carlo Nash saved brilliantly from Iain Hume and Richard Stearman, and a win for Southampton sent Leicester down.
Stoke's fans invaded the pitch for a second time to begin partying, while the 2,000-strong Foxes contingent contemplated a dramatic fall from grace for their club.
Four years after exiting the top flight, they face the prospect of a dogfight in League One despite an injection of cash in the past 12 months from owner Milan Mandaric.
He was not present to witness Stoke, who needed only a draw, secure their return to the elite for the first time in 23 years.
A predictably nervous first half featured more fierce tackling than clear-cut openings.
Leicester's Steve Howard and McAuley were somewhat fortunate to escape with cautions for rash challenges on Andy Wilkinson and Liam Lawrence.
Stoke carried the greater attacking threat and could have been in front 10 minutes before the break when following a long punt forward Henderson superbly parried Fuller's volley and saved bravely at the dangerous striker's feet from the follow-up.
Leicester's midfield struggled to get up to support Howard and Barry Hayles in attack, who were left to feed off scraps.
Hayles, who fired one effort woefully wide, at least forced Nash into a save - albeit a comfortable one - just before the break, when he shot on the turn.
Stoke continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession after the interval but lacked composure in the final third.
But, with news filtering through that Southampton had gone 2-1 up against Sheffield United, there could have been a hammer blow to Leicester.
The ball broke to Fuller in the six-yard box following a long Rory Delap throw-in but Henderson somehow pulled off a fantastic instinctive save to keep his team level.
From then on it was pretty much all Leicester, and they came agonisingly close when McAuley got a clean head on the ball from Matt Oakley's corner and hit the outside of the post. On a typical final-day roller-coaster of nerves, the visitors threw men forward in the knowledge Southampton were now 3-2 up.
And they thought they had a penalty when Stearman was felled just inside the area but a free-kick was given and Hume fired over.
Nash then produced stunning saves to keep out Hume's deflected strike and Stearman's header from the resulting corner.
With play deep into time added on, some Potters fans invaded the pitch after hearing Ipswich had beaten Hull to confirm their elevation.
The final whistle came moments after the resumption and Leicester's players trudged off past delirious Stoke fans who engulfed the pitch.

Leicester fans must come to terms with life in League One

Stoke manager Tony Pulis:"I have to say a special 'thank you' to the chairman. Peter showed a lot of character to buy this club and spent a lot of money on it."When he rang me I was at a decent club at Plymouth - they're a good club.
"But if Peter had the nerve to come back and take this club forward I couldn't say 'no'.
"Last time I was here I got criticised on a budget that was a bottom-three budget and there was no way I was going to come back unless he gave me a chance to compete.
"He said I would be able to compete and he has kept his word. Everything he said and promised he has been true to. "This is a great day for this club and an opportunity for us to build and push on for next year."

Holloway's men paid the price for struggling in front of goal

Leicester boss Ian Holloway:"It's a devastating day for all of us. Too many times this season we haven't done it, we haven't scored and the table doesn't lie.
"Our character needs to be looked at, the overall team and squad. The fans have known it but we've let everyone down.
"We have to hold our hands up, we were the ones with the responsibility and couldn't deal with it."The Foxes slipped into the third tier for the first time in their history after they failed to beat Stoke and Southampton saw off Sheffield United.
Asked if he feared owner Milan Mandaric would axe him he said: "Of course I do.
"Milan's going to be as devastated as anybody - we did the worst thing and got relegated. Nearly everything we've touched here hasn't worked."
Holloway became Leicester's fourth permanent boss in a year when he took charge after leaving Plymouth last November.
The club were 17th at the time and their struggle to score goals led to a sequence of poor results which saw them slide down the table.
Victory over Stoke would still have ensured safety, but Gareth McAuley hit the post and Potters keeper Carlo Nash made some outstanding saves. "Our fans have been different class and they deserve a team that fights and battles and plays like we did at Stoke every week.
"It's a marvellous club and it's had far too many changes but I will say Leicester City will be back, probably in a very different form with different people playing for them.
"We'll have to wait and see how it pans out but the overall season has been a disaster and it's culminated in this."

Fiorentina 0-0 Rangers (0-0)

Rangers were delighted with their victory in Italy

Ten-man Rangers edged into the Uefa Cup final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Fiorentina.
The Italians dominated and Sasa Papac cleared Mario Alberto Santana's clever backheel off the goalline.
Adrian Mutu and Christian Vieri also went close, while Steven Whittaker forced a good save at the other end.
Daniel Cousin was sent off in extra time, but the tie ended goalless and Nacho Novo fired the winning penalty after Vieri drove his kick over.
And that took Rangers to their first European final since they lifted the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1972.
The scene had been set for Rangers to follow Dick Advocaat to the City of Manchester Stadium on 14 May, the former Ibrox boss having earlier led Zenit St Petersburg to their first European final with a 5-1 aggregate hammering of Bayern Munich. Signs were good for Walter Smith's side at the Stadio Artemio Franchi when veteran Scotland defender David Weir took to the field having recovered from injury.
Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson also returned from the suspensions that ruled them out of the first leg to bolster Rangers' midfield.
The Glasgow outfit made a more assured start than they had at Ibrox and it took Fiorentina 19 minutes to threaten.
But the pressure started to build and, when goalkeeper Neil Alexander failed to collect a dangerous Massimo Gobbi cross, Papac was forced into a hasty headed clearance. Marco Donadel's return from suspension was cut short as he hobbled off, to be replaced with Zdravko Kuzmanovic. Minutes later, his Fiorentina team-mates joined him in the changing room having failed to breach the Rangers defence.
Fiorentina continued to press after the break, Giampaolo Pazzini firing just wide and Tomas Ujfalusi flashing a drive narrowly over.
Rangers forced Sebastien Frey into his first save on 76 minutes, though Steven Davis' prodded effort from 14 yards was easily held by the goalkeeper.
Vieri almost became an instant hero with his first touch after coming on as a substitute but sat on the ball instead of turning it into the net from just three yards out.

Rangers' Cousin lost the plot by aiming a butt at Liverani

Frey pushed away a fine curling effort from Whittaker at full stretch as Rangers threatened on the break, but the Italians held the greater threat as the game went into extra time.
Vieri missed the target with three attempts, while a Zdravko Kuzmanovic header flew narrowly wide.
Carlos Cuellar sent a powerful header straight at Frey and a Cousin drive looped over the bar.
But Rangers were reduced to 10-men when substitute Cousin, already booked, head-butted Fabio Liverani and received a second yellow card.
Rangers played out the final 10 minutes to take the game to penalties.
And, although Rangers captain Barry Ferguson had his spot-kick saved, Alexander denied Liverani before the veteran Vieri became the villain of a thrilling semi-final.

Chelsea's dignity and bravery

Frank Lampard and Avram Grant added bravery and dignity to the potent cocktail of a passionate Champions League drama served up at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard pays tribute to his mother after scoring Chelsea's second

The bare facts state that Chelsea advanced to a final date with Manchester United in Moscow on 21 May with a 3-2 win over Liverpool after extra-time.
Chelsea deserved their win, a measure of revenge at last for two previous defeats against Liverpool at the same stage.
But for Lampard and Grant, victory brought so much more on both a personal and professional level.
Lampard chose this high-profile, pressurised encounter to make his comeback following the death of his mother, and responded with a performance that underscored his character and maturity, providing Chelsea with a platform and headline-writers with their story.
When Michael Ballack tumbled under Sami Hyypia's challenge eight minutes into extra-time, there was almost a hush around Stamford Bridge when it became clear the German had passed penalty duties back to Lampard, despite his success against Manchester United.
Chelsea's supposedly iron-hard coach Henk Ten Cate could barely look as Lampard started his run-up before burying an unerringly powerful penalty past Pepe Reina.
Only Lampard will know and understand the range of emotions that went through his mind during those few seconds, but his professionalism conquered all of them for a vital strike.
He seemed on the verge of tears before acknowledging his father, Frank senior, in the stands.
It was a defining moment for Lampard and Chelsea, a moment when superiority was wrestled back from an improving Liverpool. DidierDrogba added the third to put Chelsea in the final, despite an anxious last three minutes when Petr Cech fumbled in Ryan Babel's speculative effort.
And then it was time for Chelsea boss Grant to revel in the moment many critics thought was beyond him.

Grant has guided Chelsea to their first Champions League final

This low-key figure took off his jacket and dropped to his knees in joy, head in hands, as realisation dawned that he can now take his place in history as the first manager to guide Chelsea to a Champions League final.
The man who has suffered so many cruel comparisons - on and off the pitch - with his flamboyant and outspoken predecessor Jose Mourinho, had achieved something even beyond the Special One.
He had conquered Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final.
Grant was even applauded by Chelsea fans who, while not exactly warming to him, must surely respect him more with every passing week.
The Israeli then revealed his own very personal emotions that had provided the backdrop to the greatest moment of his professional career.
He said: "Today was Holocaust day in my country, and I will be making a visit to Auschwitz tomorrow. This was a special day for me.Hard but very special.My father, who survived the Holocaust, buried my grandfather with his own hands, so this day always has an extra significance.
"My father was the most optimistic and strong person I have ever known, so to reach the Champions League final today of all days was unbelievable."
It was a moving and dignified tribute that emphasised the inner strength of a man who has received scant praise, but could yet provide Chelsea with their most glorious moment.
Grant was rightly criticised after his tactical inertia in the Carling Cup defeat against Spurs, but he has grown into the job since then and it is time he is given the credit he is due.
Amid wild rumours of player unrest and claims of a lack of boardroom support, Grant has simply got on with the job and statistics state few could have done better.
The coach who supposedly could not win the crucial games has seen off Arsenal, Manchester United and now Liverpool in the biggest matches Chelsea have faced.
He may still have his doubters, but he is starting to put big results on the table and if Grant wins the Champions League against Manchester United, all criticism will be rendered absurd.
It would also surely end all talk that he should be replaced at Chelsea. The players are certainly playing for him, which is the starting point for success.
Chelsea have an inner belief and dogged resilience that simply has to be admired, even by their critics. The win against Liverpool said everything about them.
It said just as much about Lampard and Grant and both men deserve the praise that will come their way after an outstanding victory.

Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (4-3)

Drogba celebrates his fine opener in front of the Liverpool bench

Didier Drogba bagged a brace as Chelsea swept into their first Champions League final at the expense of Liverpool on a night of high drama at Stamford Bridge.
The Ivorian opened the scoring with a 12-yard strike, but Fernando Torres's drive sent the game into extra-time.
Frank Lampard restored the lead from the spot after Michael Ballack had been felled, before Drogba prodded a third.
Ryan Babel's 35-yarder prompted a tense finale, but Chelsea held on to seal a tie with Manchester United in Moscow.
It was sweet revenge for Chelsea, having been knocked out of the competition at this stage three times in the last four years, including twice by Liverpool in 2005 and 2007.
And it was just about deserved on a tumultuous night's football, their reward being a titanic encounter against their rivals for the Premier League title.
Both sides made two changes to the teams that started the first leg at Anfield, Michael Essien returning from a European ban and Saloman Kalou preferred to Florent Malouda for Chelsea, Liverpool replacing Babel and the injured Fabio Aurelia with Yossi Benayoun and John Arne Riise. But, as was the case last week, it was the home side that made the early running and Drogba forced the first save of the night with a skiddy effort from 25 yards.
Liverpool's plan was apparently to soak up pressure and then look for Torres at every opportunity. The plan almost reaped rewards on 10 minutes when the Spaniard ran onto Steven Gerrard's fine pass, only for Petr Cech to smother his shot from eight yards.
It was as close as the visitors got in the first half, though, as Chelsea dictated both possession and chances.
Drogba - so impressive in the Blues' weekend win over Manchester United - was at the heart of all that was good about the hosts' play, but he should have done better when he clipped wide having been set clean through in the box by Lampard's incisive pass.
Liverpool's cause was not helped by an injury to Martin Skrtel, the defender limping off with a knee injury, and things got worse for the Reds when Chelsea scored on 33 minutes.
Fittingly, Drogba grabbed the goal, the Ivorian drilling in with aplomb after Kalou, who had been set free by Lampard, had brought a diving stop from Reina.
Replays suggested Kalou had run onto Lampard's through-ball from an offside position but Drogba, so heavily criticised by Rafael Benitez before the game for diving, showed no remorse as he grasped the opportunity to celebrate in front of the Liverpool bench.
Ballack almost rounded off the half with a superb free-kick that flew inches wide and the visitors appeared understandably relieved to go into half-time with the score just 1-0.Something had to change for the Reds - and it did - Liverpool almost making a dream start to the second half when Dirk Kuyt forced a smart save from Cech eight yards out. Gerrard, superbly marshalled by Claude Makelele, had been anonymous in the opening 45 but, with Chelsea happy to sit deep, the midfielder helped Liverpool back into the match.
The Blues suddenly looked short of rhythm and their lack of sharpness was exposed when Benayoun strolled infield and slipped in Torres, the Spaniard spinning on a sixpence and lashing into the corner.

Torres levelled in normal time but Chelsea held on to seal a final spot

It was Liverpool's first goal at Stamford Bridge in 841 minutes of football, spanning nine matches, and meant the match was destined for extra-time. The extra period fizzled with controversy - sparked when an Essien drive from 22 yards out flew into the net, only to be ruled out because four Chelsea players stood offside. The Blues' protests that they were not interfering were muted seconds later, though, as Sami Hyypia felled Ballack and Lampard dispatched the resultant penalty brilliantly.
The midfielder, whose mother passed away last week, celebrated in emotional fashion and seven minutes later Chelsea went two goals clear when Drogba swept home Anelka's pass from six yards. The touch paper had well and truly been lit and, after Hyypia had penalty appeals waved away following a Drogba challenge, Babel reduced the arrears with a speculative effort from 35 yards that Cech should have done better with. It was a frantic end to an astonishing match, but Chelsea saw it out to send the home fans into raptures and put themselves in with a chance of becoming the first London club to lift Europe's most sought-after prize.

Eriksson to be sacked by Man City

Manchester City's form has faltered badly since Christmas

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he will be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.
City owner Thaksin Shinawatra told Eriksson he was "not the right man for the job" at a meeting on Sunday, a source close to the manager said.
Eriksson informed the players at training on Monday that he would be dismissed, provoking an angry response.
The Swede, who has two years left on his contract, says he will not resign.
Shinawatra has been unhappy with City's results since the turn of the year.
The Thai billionaire was at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday to watch his team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Fulham.
Afterwards, he held a meeting with Eriksson and told him he would be dismissed after their final two games of the season.
"Sven reacted calmly, as usual, but he was very surprised and disappointed," the source told BBC Sport.
"He doesn't want to leave the club and will not resign. He loves working with the players and his work at Manchester City has only just begun."
City confirmed that Eriksson would be in charge for the final two games of the season, away at Liverpool and Middlesbrough, but made no comment about what would happen in the summer.
Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he expected them to leave City at the end of the season. "We will be here for the two last matches. They probably think that we haven't done a good enough job", said Grip.
"Sven will receive new offers soon I'm sure."
Eriksson took over as City manager five weeks before the start of the season and the team occupied third spot in the Premiership in November.
However, their form has faltered badly since Christmas and they now lie ninth, having won just four of their last 15 games.
The team has not been playing as well as it should have or getting the right results since Christmas," said the source.
"But overall it has been a good season. Thaksin agreed a five-year plan with Sven in the summer and the target for the first year was to finish in the top 10." Shinawatra bankrolled eight summer signings at a cost of more than £46m shortly after buying the club, but BBC Sport understands he has had no direct contact with Eriksson in the second half of the season.
"They met several times personally at the start of the season and then nothing," said the source.
"Sven has had a list of players he wants to sign next summer for several weeks, but he hasn't been able to get the go-ahead to get them.
"He talks to (City chief executive) Alistair Macintosh, but things break down when he then goes to the chairman."
The City players are understood to have reacted with a mixture of shock and anger when Eriksson told them he would be leaving.
Last week, City defender Micah Richards said in his BBC Sport website column that the players were "100% behind" Eriksson.
"I think it is crazy that his job is even being talked about as being in danger - he has been good for everyone at City," said Richards.
Shinawatra will now set about the task of landing a new manager, with Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari already touted as a replacement for Eriksson.
It seems certain that any new manager will have a considerable amount of money to spend in the summer.
Shinawatra has hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets in Thailand frozen as he awaits trial on corruption charges later this year.
Yet his former lawyer, Noppadom Pattama, who is now Thailand's foreign minister, told BBC Sport that he expected these assets to be "unfrozen in the near future".

Chelsea have the edge - Gerrard

Gerrard admits Liverpool face an uphill task

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has admitted Chelsea are favourites in their Champions League semi-final.
The sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the return leg following last week's 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Gerrard said: "I'll be realistic and say the advantage lies with Chelsea. They're a very good team and have been very strong at home for a long time.
"But we have shown over the last few years that we are a very good team away from home in Europe."
Liverpool have failed to score away to Chelsea in eight games under manager Rafael Benitez.
But Gerrard added: "We really feel that we are as good as Chelsea, if not better than them. We have certainly been the better team when we've played them this season." John Arne Riise's own goal in the dying stages of the first leg saw the game swing dramatically in Chelsea's favour.
Avram Grant's side, who have not lost at home in 66 league and cup matches, know a home victory will be enough to put them through to the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history.
But Reds boss Benitez feels that Chelsea's previous exits at the semi-final stage may go against them.
They have lost to Liverpool at the final four stage in two of the last three seasons and Benitez said: "I think they want to win clearly and all their supporters will push and try to support the team. The players know it's an important game for them - three years to the final, they will be a little bit under pressure."
Benitez has also has questioned the referee, who will be Italian Roberto Rosetti for his "curious" record.
"This referee has had six games in Europe this season, five times the home team has won and the other was when Chelsea won in Valencia," said the Spaniard. "Maybe that is curious.
"The referee has experience, he is certainly not a bad referee. If he is strong at Stamford Bridge then things will be okay.
"The referee in the first leg was not good in virtually every decision but hopefully it will be different now." "Drogba goes down too easily."said the Spaniard

Chelsea v Liverpool (1-1)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to return for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, second leg.
The England star, who played in the 1-1 draw at Anfield, missed Saturday's win over Manchester United following the death of his mother Pat from pneumonia.
Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise, who scored an injury-time own goal as a substitute in the first leg, could replace the injured Fabio Aurelio.
The Brazilian defender has been ruled out because of a groin problem.
Alternatively, manager Rafa Benitez could recall Sami Hyypia to centre-back, move Jamie Carragher to the right and switch Alvaro Arbeloa to the left, while Steve Finnan can play in either full-back spot.
Benitez is also set to start with striker Fernando Torres after the Spaniard was rested for Saturday's draw with Birmingham.
Peter Crouch could come in up front in preference to Ryan Babel. Grant, meanwhile, says Lampard is giving himself every chance of playing in the match: "He is doing everything to be available.
"We always take decisions after the last training session."
And he insists the fact that captain John Terry is a booking away from missing the final in Moscow, should Chelsea get there, won't affect his performance.
"You know him like I know him. He'll play to win, like he always does. He won't play any differently," he said.

Man Utd 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-0)

A spectacular strike by Paul Scholes sent Manchester United into their first Champions League final for nine years on a night of Old Trafford tension.

Paul Scholes celebrates the goal that sent Man Utd into the final

Scholes rifled in a spectacular 25-yard effort after 14 minutes to beat Barcelona and set up an all-English clash with Chelsea or Liverpool.
Barcelona dominated possession for long periods, with Deco twice close and Thierry Henry wasting a late chance.
But United mounted a rearguard action to seal a date in Moscow on 21 May.
There was added poignancy and significance in the victory, coming 50 years after the Munich air crash.
And for Scholes, suspended for the 1999 final victory against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, it is a chance to make up for that bitter disappointment. United were dealt a double blow before kick-off when Wayne Rooney's hip injury ruled him out and Nemanja Vidic was sidelined by the concussion he sustained at Chelsea.
And United almost made a nightmare start when Scholes tripped Lionel Messi as he raced into the area - there was only inches in it and fortunately for the home side German referee Herbert Fandel got the big call right and gave a free-kick.
It took United time to settle, but Scholes eased their nerves with a thunderous strike to give them the lead in the 14th minute.
Gianluca Zambrotta's wayward clearance landed at Scholes' feet, and he delivered a trademark rising drive from 25 yards that flew high into the net beyond the outstretched hands of Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.
It was only the second goal Scholes has scored this season - but it was a fitting strike to send United to the final.
Messi was the real danger man for Barcelona, and he ended a slalom run with a left-foot shot that was turned away by United keeper Edwin van der Sar. United had chances of their own, with Ji-Sung Park side-footing just wide, but Barcelona regained their composure to enjoy a period of superiority, with Deco twice narrowly off target.
Nani, preferred to Ryan Giggs, wasted a chance to grab the priceless second goal three minutes before the interval when he glanced Park's cross wide from eight yards.
Barcelona began the second half with a spell of possession, but it was United who carved out a clear opportunity as Valdes blocked Tevez's close-range drive after 56 minutes.
The Catalans made a change on the hour, sending on former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry for Andres Iniesta. Barcelona, inspired by the brilliant Messi, had United penned back, but they were resisted by defensive discipline and resilience of the highest class from a side normally noted for their attacking verve.
United attempted to stem the tide with 13 minutes left by making a double change, with Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher replacing Nani and Scholes.
Henry almost returned to haunt United with a point-blank header from Xavi's corner which was gratefully clutched by Van der Sar.
Barcelona weaved pretty patterns in the closing stages, but United's defence - superbly marshalled by Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown - stood firm to spark wild scenes of celebration at the final whistle.

Ferguson wants glory for Man Utd

Ferguson wants Man Utd to go for glory against Barcelona

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his Manchester United side to write a new chapter in the club's rich history.
United face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday in the Nou Camp - where they last won the trophy in 1999.
Ferguson said: "They have seen the game many times on video and television, so I don't think it's lost on any of them.
"What is more important is that they can shape their own history. I think they are good enough to do that."
He added: "It is almost 10 years since we won the final. The team of today do not need to worry about the past and be reminded of the past.
"They have seen the game many times on video and television, so I do not think it is lost on any of them.
Cristiano Ronaldo says the quality of the modern-day side can only be gauged at the end of the season.
United are attempting a Premier League and Champions League double, with boss Ferguson claiming his squad is the best he has had at his disposal.
"I also think that this is the most talented team," said winger Ronaldo, 23. "But you can only confirm this at the end of the season, by what was won."
Ronaldo has been in inspirational form for United this season, scoring 38 goals during the campaign.
On the way, he has overtaken George Best's record of 32 goals in a season by a winger at the club, which was set in 1968. United, who are being pushed by Chelsea in the battle for England's top-flight crown, achieved the Treble in 1999 but Ronaldo has played down making any comparisons with Red Devils teams of yesteryear for the time being.
"There is a lot of talent, I think that we are going along the right path," added Ronaldo.
"Game after game we have shown that we have a fantastic team, with a lot of talent and magnificent players, but at the end of the season we will be able to provide a definite answer if this team is the best Manchester United side of all time.
"If we win the Champions League or the Premier League we will have a better idea."

Everton complete £2m Pienaar deal

Everton have completed a £2m permanent transfer for on-loan midfield man Steven Pienaar.
The 26-year-old South African international has agreed a three-year contract after a successful season at Goodison Park.

Pienaar always hoped to remain in the Premier League

Pienaar had earlier expressed fears that the deal had stalled, but Everton boss David Moyes was always confident a deal was in place.
Moyes said: "Steven is one of the reasons our football has improved." He had been linked with Arsenal, Newcastle and Valencia but insisted he was happy to extend his stay at Goodison Park.
Pienaar, a product of the South African arm of Ajax's youth academy, has played 35 games this season scoring twice so far.

Ronaldinho move to Milan in doubt

Ronaldinho's season has been ended by injury

Ronaldinho's move to AC Milan could be in jeopardy as the Italian club have failed to agree a transfer fee with Barcelona during preliminary talks.
The 28-year-old Brazilian playmaker, who has been linked to Manchester City, has agreed personal terms with Milan.
However, the European champions' chief executive Adriano Galliani told Sky Italia: "We had a conference call. The figures haven't fallen into place.
"Maybe Ronaldinho won't come and a main striker arrives."
Former world player of the year Ronaldinho has had a difficult season at the Nou Camp.
He has been dogged by injury and fitness problems, starting only 13 of Barcelona's 30 league games, and earlier this month a leg injury ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. Milan need to boost their attacking options as Brazil striker Ronaldo is sidelined for a lengthy period with a knee injury, while 34-year-old Filippo Inzaghi is in the twilight of his career.
However, they face competition for Ronaldinho's signature as city rivals and Serie A leaders Inter Milan are also reported to be interested in the former Paris St Germain player.
Galliani said he did not believe Ronaldinho would be deterred by the prospect of playing in the Uefa Cup next season. AC Milan are currently fifth in Serie A, outside a Champions League place. "Ronaldinho went to Barcelona when they were in the Uefa Cup. It happens to all the great European clubs, I hope it doesn't happen to Milan," added Galliani.
"Anyway, Ronaldinho is a Barcelona player, not a Milan player."

Judge us on silverware - Ronaldo

Ronaldo has 38 goals so far this season

Cristiano Ronaldo says the quality of the Manchester United side can only be gauged at the end of the season.
United are attempting a Premier League and Champions League double, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson claiming his squad is the best he has had at his disposal.
"I also think that this is the most talented team," said winger Ronaldo, 23, whose side face Barcelona in their Champions semi-final on Wednesday.
"But you can only confirm this at the end of the season, by what was won."
Ronaldo has been in inspirational form for United this season, scoring 38 goals during the campaign.
On the way, he has overtaken George Best's record of 32 goals in a season by a winger at the club, which was set in 1968. United, who are being pushed by Chelsea in the battle for England's top-flight crown, achieved the Treble in 1999 but Ronaldo has played down making any comparisons with Red Devils teams of yesteryear for the time being.
"There is a lot of talent, I think that we are going along the right path," added Ronaldo.
"Game after game we have shown that we have a fantastic team, with a lot of talent and magnificent players, but at the end of the season we will be able to provide a definite answer if this team is the best Manchester United side of all time.
"If we win the Champions League or the Premier League we will have a better idea."

Players are backing Grant - Terry

Skipper John Terry insists Chelsea's players are 100% behind manager Avram Grant as they prepare for a crucial few days that will define their season.
The Blues play Liverpool on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield, before a Premier League showdown with Manchester United.
Terry claimed reports of player unrest at the club were wide of the mark.
"These suggestions are laughable - we speak openly and things are sorted out there and then," he said.
"We are totally behind the manager. There are no people walking out the door and talking behind each other's backs.
"It is bizarre because since Avram took over, one thing we've done is that if any players are unhappy or have a problem, we get together and speak our minds." Despite his team reaching the Champions League final four and lying a close second in the Premier League behind Man Utd, Grant remains unpopular with sections of Chelsea's support.
But if he can guide Chelsea to triumph at the third time of asking in a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, the Israeli may yet win those fans over.
Terry pledged Chelsea will go to Anfield looking to attack.
"We are coming here to win the game, not to shut up shop - we want to score goals and put the pressure right on Liverpool.
"It's going to be tough for us, but the away goals we can possibly take back to the Bridge will help us in the long run.
"We have shown great character and togetherness. We have got the players to go on and win the game and progress to the next stage. "We have lost to Liverpool on the two previous occasions and that burning feeling is something that will never go away, but one thing that will ease it is to go on and reach the final and lift the trophy.
"That trophy is something I want to get my hands on as Chelsea captain and for the club to go down in history."
Terry admitted: "We've had our ups and downs over the course of the season.
"But we have proved that whatever team is on the pitch, we have enough strength, character and big players to go on and win."
Grant is refusing to dwell on Chelsea's past Champions League defeats against Liverpool.
"We can make history and we will concentrate on this and not about anything else," he said.
"We lost here twice but that is history, and now we can create it. That is what is important.
"We have come a long way since we drew against Rosenborg and now we can create history - and this makes me excited."
Chelsea have also been boosted by the news that Frank Lampard will return to the squad. The 29-year-old has missed his side's last game to be with his mother who is suffering from pneumonia, and Grant was full of praise for the England midfielder.

Grant has Lampard (left) available to play against Liverpool

"I respect very much Frank and what he is doing for the club," said Grant.
"It is not an easy situation. He has given everything for the club and trained by himself.
"I gave him all the freedom to do as he wanted. Sometimes there are more important things than football, but he is available to play."

Football players robbed of £2,500

Police are investigating if the dressing room doors were unlocked

Footballers have had £2,500 in cash stolen from their dressing rooms during a Southampton Football Club home game.
Police were called to St Mary's Stadium shortly after the end of the match against Burnley on Saturday.
Five home and nine away players had cash stolen from their belongings in the changing rooms during the second half of the Championship match.
Hampshire Constabulary said it was investigating whether the doors were unlocked and was studying CCTV footage.
A Southampton Football Club spokesman said: "We can confirm there was an incident which we are investigating but we cannot comment further until we have more details."
Club officials, security staff and stewards were helping police with their inquires.
Police said there did not appear to be any witnesses to the thefts, which took place sometime after the second half started at 1600 BST.

Lampard and Gerrard in Euro boost

Lampard and Gerrard are set to face each other in Tuesday's game

England midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard will be available for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final clash between Liverpool and Chelsea.
Lampard missed two Chelsea games last week to be at the hospital bedside of his mother, who has pneumonia.
But his agent Steve Kutner said in a statement: "Although still very ill, her condition has now stabilised."
Gerrard has been passed fit for Liverpool after training on Monday following his neck injury. The Reds skipper missed Saturday's 2-0 win over Fulham because of the problem but is now set to start at Anfield.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez confirmed Gerrard's fitness at a news conference on Monday.
The Spaniard also made light of rumours that Chelsea could be set to bid for Gerrard for a third time at the end of this season.
Chelsea manager Avram Grant has described him as "the player of the year in England, and maybe in Europe, because of the influence he has on the team". Benitez said: "We have enough experience to know that if anyone asks me or Avram about a good player, we will say they're a good player.
"If I was asked about (Didier) Drogba or (Frank) Lampard, I would say that they're a very good player.
"When we played against Inter Milan (in the last 16), people were saying that Inter wanted Gerrard, and hopefully it will be the same in the final against Barcelona or Manchester United.
"Stevie is a fantastic player and he's 100% focused on his career with Liverpool. "He's fit for the game. Maybe after he's scored the winning goal in the semi-final, maybe he will be worth more."
Lampard is likely to be in the starting XI for the Blues after missing the Premier League matches against Wigan and Everton.
His return is a boost for Grant, with German international midfielder Michael Ballack doubtful because of a hamstring problem.

Everton 0-1 Chelsea

Essien (right) pulled the strings in the Chelsea midfield

Chelsea closed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United to two points with this resilient display against Everton at Goodison Park.
Michael Essien hit the winner after 41 minutes, clipping a close-range effort over Tim Howard after exchanging passes with Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Everton were industrious but lacked the quality to unlock the resolute Blues.
Manuel Fernandes went close with a curling free-kick as the hosts pressed for an equaliser, but Chelsea held on.
It may have been a nervy finish for the Blues but they were good value for the three points and Avram Grant's side are back in the hunt for the league title.
The Israeli's position at Stamford Bridge had come under scrutiny after Monday's draw with Wigan, but his players were focused and determined enough not to let another lead slip at Goodison Park.
The result also leaves Everton's Champions League qualification hopes in tatters with them trailing neighbours Liverpool by five points with three games to play. The superb Ricardo Carvalho typified Chelsea's defensive efforts - regularly shutting out Andy Johnson and strike partner Yakubu.
Everton's only chance of the first period came when Fernandes' dipping free-kick forced Cech into an uncomfortable parry behind.
Chelsea bossed possession in non-threatening areas but looked toothless for large periods with the absence of Didier Drogba highlighting the Blues' finishing deficiencies.
And their delivery to the misfiring Nicolas Anelka, particularly from wide areas, was desperately poor.
When the Frenchman did get a sight of goal, he dragged his shot well wide of Howard's left post.
Everton were forced to defend for long periods but were able to create moments of creativity going forward, with Joleon Lescott providing a useful outlet down the left flank. But it was Chelsea who produced the first move of quality, coupled with a huge slice of fortune, and it enabled Essien to claim his second goal in four days.
The Ghanaian looked to play a neat exchange with Wright-Phillips before a wicked deflection off Phil Jagielka helped the ball into the on-rushing Essien's path.
Howard advanced but Essien kept his composure and slotted over the keeper from close in.
A fizzing, long-range drive from Jon Obi Mikel almost gave the visitors an undeserved second soon after, but Howard was alert to tip over.

Carvalho (left) was immense for his skipper Terry

Chelsea failed to build on their lead after the break with Everton bossing possession without seriously threatening Petr Cech's goal.
Fernandes produced a stunning free-kick that whistled inches past the post, and the Portuguese also enjoyed flashing drives from distance.
But for all the Toffees' purpose, the key pass failed to materialise and their Champions League qualification hopes have all but come to an end.

Redknapp taking police to court

Harry Redknapp has led Portsmouth to this year's FA Cup final

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is taking the police to court over his arrest during an inquiry into alleged football corruption.
Mr Redknapp, along with his wife Sandra, has lodged a legal action at the Administrative Court of the High Courts of Justice in London.
They want a judicial review into a raid at their home in Sandbanks, Dorset.
Mr Redknapp, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested last November by City of London Police.
A spokesman for the court confirmed that an action had been received and a first hearing will be held on 2 May.
A City of London Police press officer said the force would not comment.
Following his release on bail, Redknapp held a press conference in which he spoke of his "bitter disappointment" at the way the raid and his arrest had been handled.
He complained that the police arrived at his home at 0600 accompanied by press photographers.
Mr Redknapp was not available for comment today.
Nine people are on bail in connection with the continuing inquiry.

Strachan proud of Celtic spirit

Manager Gordon Strachan was delighted to see Celtic stay in the title race after Jan Vennegoor
of Hesselink's injury-time winner.

Strachan was happy to see his side snatch a last-gasp winner

"It keeps it ticking along nicely," Strachan told BBC Sport after a thrilling 2-1 victory at Celtic Park.
"We showed tremendous spirit to come back and keep creating chances after missing the penalty."
Celtic are a point behind the Scottish Premier League leaders but have played two games more than their rivals.
A brawl broke out on the pitch on the final whistle but Strachan said: "I've not got a clue what happened.
"For me to comment on something I don't know anything about would be like me talking about politics. I never saw anything there."
Asked if the referee requested to talk to any Hoops stars, Strachan added: "I think he wanted to speak to one or two players after the game. I think he spoke to one or two players."
It later transpired that Celtic's Gary Caldwell and David Weir of Rangers were shown red cards after the match, which followed the 70th-minute dismissal of the visitors' defender Carlos Cuellar for handling a net-bound Shunsuke Nakamura shot.
"I think the Old Firm games have gone back to a 1980s style," stated Strachan.
"When I first came here it was a footballing Old Firm but it's more intense now.
"Atmosphere-wise it's good, as long as the players maintain discipline." Nakamura fired Celtic in front as the home side dominated the first half.
Nacho Novo equalised after the break and Celtic missed a great chance when Scott McDonald's penalty, which followed Cuellar's handball, was saved by Allan McGregor. However, Celtic found a winner in the 93rd minute when Vennegoor of Hesselink headed home from inside the six-yard box.
"We were in control in the first half and I felt we were worthy of our lead, although I would have preferred two or three," said Strachan.
"I knew one wouldn't be enough because Rangers would react - and they did."

Nevin tips Rijkaard for Chelsea

Rijkaard's Barcelona face Manchester United in the Champions League

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will be the new Blues boss next season.
Present manager Avram Grant has come under increasing pressure following Monday's 1-1 draw with Wigan.
Nevin told BBC Sport: "I'm speaking as someone who just wants the best for the club. I don't have the ear of chairman Bruce Buck or owner Roman Abramovich.
"But I would not be devastated or all that surprised if Frank Rijkaard turns up as the Chelsea manager next year."
Rijkaard is himself under pressure at Barcelona, despite leading the club to the Champions League semi-finals this season - where they are joined by Chelsea. Nevin believes that former Stamford Bridge striker Gianfranco Zola would be another leading contender - if Grant leaves at the end of the season.
And the Scot has a suspicion that long-serving assistant manager Steve Clarke is likely to leave Stamford Bridge if Grant remains at the London club.
"Zola is still great friends with Stevie Clarke and I would hope that Stevie would still be down there," said Nevin on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.
"If Avram Grant stays, I don't think that will be the case. If Avram Grant goes, you never know."
Nevin revealed that he had been swamped with angry emails from Chelsea fans following Wigan's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge.
"I write for the Chelsea website every Tuesday and usually ask a little question at the end," he added.
"Usually, I get a couple of hundred emails per week. But, oh dear, my emails went into meltdown because the only way you can contact the club is through my email address.
"I've got over 1000 emails sitting there and they are not answers to the question."
Nevin said that many fans were furious and had given up on Grant.
"Most seem to think he has a problem and that is the important games, yet those games have come against lesser clubs," stated Nevin.
"They lost a cup final to Spurs when Chelsea basically did not turn up and they lost to Barnsley when the FA Cup was wide open for them.
"Then, of course, they lost a late equaliser to a Wigan side that were waiting to get hammered.
"He had left out Drogba and left out Ricardo Carvalho, which was an amazing decision.
"And, most important of all, he left out Joe Cole for the first half and played Florent Malouda, who was absolutely hopeless."
Nevin pointed out that there had been positives to Grant's reign.
"He has only lost three games all season in the league and could still win the Champions League," he added.
"And can you sack a manager who has just won the Champions League?"

Rooney can be England captain

England coach Fabio Capello has earmarked Wayne Rooney as a future England captain but believes the striker needs more time to mature.

Capello (left) says Rooney has the right qualities to be captain.

"Wayne Rooney is young but I believe in the future he could be captain of England one day," said the Italian.
"He is a leader, he is a good example on the pitch. We need to give him a bit more time to get some more experience and mature a bit.
"The good thing is he has got a big margin of improvement ahead of him."
Capello will continue to rotate the captain's armband before naming a permanent leader ahead of the World Cup qualifiers next season, which has led to Rooney, 22, being linked with the role. England will next play the United States in a friendly next month but the Italian would not reveal who would lead out the side at Wembley.
"I am undecided who will be captain for the next game," said Capello. "But I do believe Rooney could one day be captain.
"He is the most talented young English player. He is very good at everything. The one thing he can improve is the number of chances he puts away.
"He doesn't convert as many as he could but I am sure that will come in the future."
Rooney has captained Manchester United but he is known to have a combustible temperament and has a mixed disciplinary record with both club and country.
He was sent off for England in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in 2006, a match England went on to lose on penalties.
In 2004 a teenaged Rooney was substituted at half-time against Spain as it was feared the frustrated striker would sooner or later be sent off. A year later Rooney was criticised by Sir Alex Ferguson after he was dismissed in a Champions League match against Villarreal for mocking referee Kim Milton Nielsen. Meanwhile, Capello, speaking during a trip to Lesotho to promote the Football Association's involvement in developing the game at grassroots level in Africa, denied there was a rift between himself and Michael Owen.
The Newcastle United striker had reportedly said he was confused by Capello's tactics during the friendly defeat to France.
But Capello said: "First of all, Michael Owen has denied making those comments to begin with and I have absolutely no problem with him. There is no problem between him and me as far as I am concerned.
"My relationship with Michael Owen is the same as with all the players. A good manager should have that equal relationship whether it is with Michael Owen, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand or anyone else.
"I have a group of players and Michael Owen is part of my plans."

Inter join chase for Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho has struggled with fitness and form all season

Inter Milan are considering trying to hijack AC Milan's pursuit of Barcelona and Brazil forward Ronaldinho.
AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani and Ronaldinho's brother and agent Roberto de Assis have said initial terms have been agreed.
But Inter president Massimo Moratti says his club could join the hunt.
"We will assess the possibility next week," Moratti told Italian television. "We have good relations with Barcelona and Ronaldinho's agent. We will see."
De Assis has said AC Milan is the only club he has spoken to but Moratti does not think that means the deal is done.
"It depends a bit on our decision," he said. "It is a deal that Milan is conducting well and it is like the transfer market is open. Therefore it is open for us, too."
Inter are likely to lose Luis Figo to retirement at the end of the season and another creative player is on their wishlist.
The two clubs clashed last year when Milan tried to sign striker David Suazo from Cagliari at the last minute after he had already held talks with Inter. The Honduran chose Inter.
Ronaldinho, 28, has had a difficult few months at the Nou Camp because of injury and loss of form and a move has long been mooted.
The forward is out for the rest of the campaign with a leg injury and a transfer can not officially go through until the end of the season, unless he buys himself out of his contract.

Chelsea 1-1 Wigan

Wigan's late equaliser left Chelsea's players and supporters stunned
Emile Heskey struck with an injury-time volley to earn a point for Wigan and leave Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League hanging by a thread.
Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland made fine saves from Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou while John Terry hit the bar.
Chelsea eventually took the lead when Michael Essien struck from 20 yards.
But Heskey converted Jason Koumas's teasing cross to leave Chelsea five points behind leaders United with four games left to play. Heskey's goal is a hammer blow for Chelsea and a severe punishment for their failure to kill off the game after taking the lead with 54 minutes played.
The warning signs had been there when when Latics substitute Antoine Sibierski forced a decent save from Petr Cech minutes before Heskey scored.
And once the final whistle sounded a chorus of boos rang out across Stamford Bridge as manager Avram Grant made his way down the tunnel.
But the draw is a superb result for visiting team Wigan, who are now six points clear of the relegation zone. The Latics refused to give in and boss Steve Bruce was visibly delighted at the end, but in truth it was a far from inspired Chelsea performance.
Chelsea boss Grant, doubtless with Thursday's match against Everton in mind, opted to rest Didier Drogba, Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho, while Frank Lampard withdrew for personal reasons shortly before kick-off.
The changes presented Anelka with a rare opportunity to lead the line and he should have scored after five minutes but headed wide from six yards. The France international appeared to have put his team in front later in the half with a looping header but was denied by Kirkland's brilliantly athletic save.
Paul Scharner then headed towards his own goal under pressure and it required Josip Skoko's goal-line clearance to ensure the Latics remained on level terms.
But these were all-too-rare chances in a rather humdrum opening half, played out in front of a crowd that seemed underwhelmed by events on the pitch.
And Wigan, who appeared comfortable for the most of the opening 45 minutes, were not without opportunities of their own.
.
Chelsea scorer Essien started after Frank Lampard fell ill
Scharner had a shot blocked while Cech, playing with a special chin strap to protect the 50 stitches he had in a facial wound last week, made a smart save at his near post to deny Antonio Valencia.
Cole replaced the ineffectual Florent Malouda at the break and his arrival coincided with a much a greater sense of urgency from the home team.
Terry crashed a volley against the crossbar from a corner and Kirkland brilliantly smothered a Kalou shot before Essien finally found the net after 55 minutes.
Anelka slipped but regained his footing to lay the ball off to Essien, whose 20-yard strike took a slight deflection off Emmerson Boyce on its way to goal.
All three chances fell within the space of 60 seconds - and from the moment Essien struck the home team seemed firmly in control.
Kirkland saved a header from Alex, Michael Ballack drilled a free-kick over the bar and Joe Cole narrowly missed as Chelsea looked for a decisive second goal.
But the late chances fell to Wigan, with substitute Sibierski's miss followed by Heskey's equaliser.

Derby 0-6 Aston Villa

Aston Villa hammered Derby at Pride Park to plunge the relegated Rams's season into an embarrassing new low.

Derby looked woefully short of Premier League quality.
Derby keeper Roy Carroll had a torrid first-half, failing to clear Ashley Young's free-kick for Villa's first.
John Carew drilled in seconds later before Stiliyan Petrov expertly lashed Carroll's hideously skewed clearance into the top corner from 45 yards.
Gareth Barry slotted in after half-time then Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marlon Harewood tucked away to end the rout. Derby manager Paul Jewell had talked of giving the fans a glimmer of light in a dark season for the Rams, and his players initially set about that task with zeal.
Young went close with a snap-shot on the half volley after five minutes but Derby, backed by a vociferous home crowd, dictated the early play with Kenny Miller providing guile.
The Scottish striker cleverly set up David Jones on the edge of the box on 15 minutes but he could only scuff a tame shot into Scott Carson's arms.
Derby continued to probe impressively but lacked real class around the penalty area and failed to carve out any clear-cut chances. But with the game drifting and Villa looking lacklustre, a mistake from Carroll changed the course of the game.
Young swung an innocuous free-kick towards goal from 30 yards on 25 minutes and, as Olof Mellberg challenged for the ball, Carroll failed to make any real contact to clear and the ball went straight into the net.
Cue Derby's catastrophic collapse.
Less than 60 seconds later, England midfielder Barry broke down the left wing to cross, Carroll could only push the ball away from a sea of bodies out to Carew, and Villa's big striker rammed a vicious shot back into the goal.

Jewell is still without a win in his 20 games as manager
With Derby's confidence now at rock bottom, Villa streamed forward in waves but it was another Carroll clanger which led to their third.
A routine punt downfield was skewed towards Petrov who, 45 yards from goal, controlled impeccably and then lashed back over Carroll's head into the top corner for a breathtaking goal.
That was enough for some Derby fans who have not tasted victory in 30 games and they soon filed towards the exit gates before half-time.
And the East Midlanders' suffering continued into the second-half.
On 53 minutes, Young neatly played England colleague Agbonlahor into the box and the rebound from his low shot, saved smartly by Carroll, was tapped home by Barry with Derby's defence at a complete standstill. Derby plugged away and Robbie Earnshaw forced Carson into a flying save but the Rams agony continued on 75 minutes.
A simple clearance inadvertently knocked on by a Derby defender was pounced upon by Agbonlahor who tucked into the corner from 15 yards.
Five minutes before full-time Patrik Berger played in fellow substitute Harewood who raced beyond Derby's static defence to coolly slot home past the beleaguered Carroll and boost Villa's European hopes.
The only relief for Derby was the final whistle and they are now in danger of becoming only the second club ever in history to go through a full league season with just one win.
The Rams now stand on the brink of breaking a host of records which would confirm then as the worst ever side in the Premier League - and one of the poorest top-flight teams ever.
Derby manager Paul Jewell:"It is difficult to accept a performance like this.
"We played well for the first 20 minutes but as soon as we concede a goal it is like a pack of cards and we just collapse.
"It is a horrible situation we are in and it is uncomfortable. As soon as we face a bit of adversity we have not got enough leaders or men to get us through it.
"Once they scored the difference in class was huge."
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:"We played very well today. Derby started very brightly and we were playing second fiddle.
"But we got the goal and the whole game changed. There was plenty of confidence about the side but we had to work hard and try to get the ball back.
"Petrov played very well last week and recreated that today.
"We have got everything to play for still this season, but we can't make any mistakes. We need to give ourselves a chance."

Man Utd given boost by Ferdinand

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand could face Roma in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, despite fears he had injured his foot on Sunday.

The defender limped out of their 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough but a scan on Monday revealed nothing was broken.
Sir Alex Ferguson said Ferdinand would have a fitness test on Wednesday and if he was not fit, Gary Neville or Mikael Silvestre could deputise.
Neville has been out for 13 months and Silvestre last played in September. "I am hoping Rio will play," said Ferguson.
"His scan was clear, that was the important thing. Therefore we are hoping we can get him fit to face Roma.
"We will report at 1100 on Wednesday, so he will have to do something at that time."
However, fellow central defender Nemanja Vidic is definitely out as he faces two or three weeks on the sidelines after falling awkwardly in the 2-0 first-leg win in Rome.
Sunday's draw with Middlesbrough leaves United only three points ahead of Chelsea, who they play at Stamford Bridge on 26 April, and six points ahead of Arsenal, who they face on Sunday.

Man City 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea saw off Manchester City to move to within two points of Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Avram Grant's side were gifted the lead when Richard Dunne diverted Nicolas Anelka's cross into his own net.
City responded by creating a succession of good chances and Carlo Cudicini did well to keep out Martin Petrov's shot.
But Salomon Kalou rounded Joe Hart and slotted home to give Chelsea breathing space, and only two superb Hart saves stopped Anelka adding to their tally.
Interview: Man City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson
Interview: Chelsea manager Avram Grant
It was a vital win for Chelsea and means they maintain the pressure on United, who travel to play Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Grant was in charge when Chelsea thumped City 6-0 at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and the way they began this game suggested they would enjoy another walk in the park.
The visitors were well on top even before Dunne diverted Anelka's cross past Hart while trying to prevent it from reaching Michael Essien.
Only a superb saving tackle by Nedum Onuoha stopped Anelka when he broke free again minutes later as Grant's side continued to press.
Things looked ominous for City, who have gone off the boil badly in recent weeks and have only won three of their last 15 league games.
But they responded well and with better finishing could have been level by the break.
Petrov rattled one shot wide and Michael Johnson skied a volley when well placed.
City went even closer when Benjani pulled the ball back for Stephen Ireland, who saw his goalbound shot cannon over off Juliano Belletti's leg. And it took a superb save from Cudicini to tip over out Petrov's next effort - which was heading for the top corner - before Ashley Cole had to clear Johnson's deflected shot off the line.
Chelsea were still looking dangerous on the break and only another superb Onuoha tackle stopped Anelka when he found more space in the area.
But it was not until Kalou scored their second goal that they looked at all comfortable with the lead.

Kalou and Essien celebrate Chelsea's second goal.
Essien was involved again in the build-up, with his pass deflecting off the luckless Dunne and into the path of the Ivory Coast striker, who finished with aplomb.
That ended City's hopes of getting anything from the game and if not for Hart they would have suffered an even heavier defeat.
The England Under-21 star did well to deny Anelka in a one-on-one situation when he ran through seconds after Kalou had scored.
And Hart made an even better stop when he tipped the Frenchman's header on to the bar before recovering to paw away the rebound.
Chelsea can head into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Fenerbahce on Tuesday with renewed confidence.
But City's slump continues and a serious-looking injury to Onuoha, who was stretchered off in pain before the end, added to what was a frustrating afternoon for their manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.