Manchester United boss Ferguson sets sights on FA Cup after Fulham win

The Red Devils coach is eager to lift the trophy again after his side’s failure to win it for nine successive campaigns despite success in other competitions during that time

The Red Devils cruised to a comfortable 4-1 home victory over visiting Fulham in the fourth round, sealing his side's place in the next round of the cup.

A Chicharito double as well as goals from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney proved too much for Martin Jol's side, despite Aaron Hughes' late consolation for the visitors.

The United manager has branded this season's FA Cup as "an important trophy" for the club, and is aware that a big effort from his squad will be needed in order to win it for the first time in nine years.

"The FA Cup's an important trophy for us this season," Sir Alex told Sky Sports. "We haven't won it for almost 10 years, so we really need to have a big performance this year.

"Rio Ferdinand's never won an FA Cup medal - so we really need to do something about that.

"I think we respected Fulham because we played a very strong team today. It was a good performance."

Ryan Giggs has echoed Ferguson’s ambition to lift this season’s FA Cup, stating that his team-mates are also "desperate" to win the competition.

"It means a lot," Giggs said. "We've not done as well as we should have done in the last eight, nine years.

"There's a lot of players desperate to win it. With the history we've got in the competition, we should be there, we should be getting to finals, so hopefully this will be the year."

Mourinho: I will never coach in Germany

The Real Madrid boss refused to pass opinion on Pep Guardiola's decision to join Bayern Munich in the summer, but insisted that the Bundesliga does not appeal to him

The 42-year-old Spaniard was previously embroiled in an intense rivalry with the Portuguese while in charge of Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, but will end his sabbatical in the summer when he succeeds Jupp Heynckes.

But in an interview with Rai Sport, the Real Madrid boss insisted that Guardiola's switch to Germany does not concern him, and neither does he intend to ever follow in his former opponent's footsteps.

"I have no comment to make, everyone is entitled to their choice," said Mourinho.

"Has he deliberately chosen a league I am not involved in? I don't know. What is certain is that I will not manage in Germany.

"I have nothing to say on the matter, it is all the same to me."

AC Milan willing to sell Mexes to finance Balotelli move

AC Milan are looking to offload defender Philippe Mexes to help finance a deal for Manchester City misfit Mario Balotelli during the January transfer window.The English champions are holding out for a sum of £31.1 million for the forward, who has already put the wheels in motion as he prepares to leave the club.

That sum exceeds what the Rossoneri are willing to pay for the player, but club CEO Adriano Galliani is hoping to subsidise the transfer with the sale of Mexes.The club have grown frustrated with the Frenchman's poor performances in recent weeks, and his sale would free up around £3.8m in wages, which would go towards a move for Balotelli.

Roberto Mancini has remained adamant that the former Inter man would not be leaving the club in January,  despite player and manager being involved in a training ground row at the start of the year.

And, although AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi claimed that Balotelli was a "rotten" apple and later apologised, the seven-time European champions have proposed a deal worth £25m, to be paid over six years, to bring him back to his homeland, as Goal.com revealed on Tuesday.

However, City are hoping for a better deal that would see his transfer fee paid over the course of three years.

The Rossoneri's audacious attempt to bring Kaka back to San Siro from Real Madrid fell through this week, but they remain hopeful of adding a big name to their squad this winter.

Should Mexes leave Milan, Galliani & Co. would look to bring in Davide Astori of Cagliari, but the Sardinian outfit are unlikely to want to sell the defender.

Their second-choice replacement is Chievo's Marco Andreolli, whose contract expires in the summer.

Super Soccer: Malaga - Barcelona Preview: The Blaugrana hope to ...

Super Soccer: Malaga - Barcelona Preview: The Blaugrana hope to ...: Barcelona  and  Malaga  complete a trio of matches against each other when they play the second leg of their Copa...

Malaga - Barcelona Preview: The Blaugrana hope to bounce back after two games without a win

Barcelona and Malaga complete a trio of matches against each other when they play the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final at La Rosaleda on Thursday evening. Manuel Pellegrini's side currently hold an advantage on away goals in this cup clash after drawing 2-2 at Camp Nou in the first leg last week. 

The visitors will be without their coach Tito Vilanova as he receives more medical treatment in New York, but can call on all of their 25-man squad after Isaac Cuenca was given the green light to return to competitive action after a long period out with a knee injury.

After drawing against Malaga in the first leg of this fixture last week, the Blaugrana went on to surrender a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday which marked their first loss in the league this campaign. 

Malaga, meanwhile, followed up on their impressive performance at Camp Nou with a 1-1 draw in the Liga at home to Celta Vigo.

The Andalusian side will be without Nacho Monreal after he was sent off in the first leg for a foul on Pedro. However, having exceeded expectations with a weakened side to draw 2-2 last week, it is likely that Pellegrini will recall the likes of Isco, Joaquin, Welligton and Martin Demichelis. 

New loan signings Lucas Piazon from Chelsea and Diego Lugano from Paris Saint-Germain may also be included in Malaga's squad. 



                                                           DID YOU KNOW

• A late equaliser from Ignacio Camacho in the first leg secured Malaga an away-goal advantage going into this game, with Manuel Iturra scoring their other goal. Lionel Messi and Carlos Puyol were on the scoresheet for Barcelona in that 2-2 draw.

• Malaga have won just once so far in 2013, when they beat Eibar 4-1 on January 8 in the previous round of the Copa del Rey.

• Diego Buanonotte has enjoyed a prolific start to the calendar year in front of goal for Pellegrini's side, having scored a fine free kick against Barcelona during their 3-1 loss on January 13 and netting twice in that 4-1 victory over Eibar.

• The Blaugrana are the current reigning champions in the Copa del Rey, after they defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final of last season's competition.

• Cesc Fabregas (pictured right) has not lost any of the 11 Spanish cup games he has played for Barcelona. In those games he has scored four and supplied seven assists.

• Barcelona have so far conceded 35 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season, at an average of 1.06 per game, compared to 48 in 64 games last season at an average of 0.75 per game.

                                                            

Roma playmaker Pjanic claims Barcelona interest

Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic has claimed that Barcelona are monitoring his situation, and added that he is flattered to be the subject of interest from the Catalans.

The 22-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international says the Blaugrana have been tracking him in recent weeks, but stressed that any move is in the hands of his current club.

“It’s true, Barcelona are tracking me and enquired about my situation with my club," he toldEFE.

"They were watching me during the game with Fiorentina. It is Roma who have to decide, as the clubs deal with these matters.

"Barcelona are a team everyone would like to play for and it is an honour that they are interested in me."

Pjanic's contract with the Giallorossi runs until June 2015.

Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (Agg 3-4): Brilliant Bantams hold on to reach Wembley

Bradford City continued their brilliant run in the Capital One Cup despite losing 2-1 to Aston Villa, becoming the first fourth tier team to reach the final since 1962.

Christian Benteke gave the Villans an early lead, but James Hanson thundered a second-half header home to equalise for the Bantams and restore their two-goal aggregate lead.

Phil Parkinson saw his side hold on for victory, despite Andreas Weimann's strike and Bradford will compete their first cup final in 101 years.

The hosts picked a strong side, including the likes of Benteke and Ron Vlaar, while the bantams were unchanged from the first leg.

Matthew Lowton wasted an early chance as he was unable to keep his header down despite being only a few yards out, following a knock-down from Benteke.

The Belgian then had a header of his own but could only direct it into the arms of goalkeeper Matt Duke before Fabian Delph's long-range effort flew over the bar.

Villa were a constant threat and it was no surprise that they were one up after 23 minutes. Joe Bennett delivered an inch-perfect cross and Benteke volleyed past Duke with the side of his foot.

Stephen Ireland had the ball in the back of the net four minutes later following a run from Bennett but the goal was chalked off for offside.

Duke was once again in fine form and produced a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Charles N'Zogbia from range before doing the same from an Ireland effort.

A minute before half-time and it should really have been 2-0. Rory McArdle misjudged an Ireland cross into the box and the ball flicked off Benteke but bobbled inches wide.

Bradford almost equalised with their first chance of the game just before the break through a fine curling attempt from Nahki Wells - the ball beat an outstretched Shay Given but also the post.

The Bantams equalised on the night and extended their lead overall after 55 minutes with a brilliant header from Hanson as he rose above Vlaar and thumped Gary Jones' corner into the net from eight yards.

Bradford were in the ascendancy and Hines forced Given before Hanson's header coming off the top of his head and out for a goal kick.

Ireland almost pulled one back for Villa after fine work from substitute Darren Bent to play him in but he could only shoot wide from six yards out.

Substitute Garry Thompson nearly added further misery to the home side but his first time effort struck the crossbar after more good work on the right from Hines. 

Weimann scored a late winner for Villa on the night, rounding Duke following a flick-on from Bent but it was too little too late.

Phil Parkinson's side held on for a famous victory over two legs and will face the winners of Swansea and Chelsea at Wembley, who play on Wednesday.