Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United’s slack European performances will force him to reassess how to approach games at Old Trafford in future.

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has hit out at Mario Balotelli, telling the temperamental Manchester City striker it’s time to back up his words with actions.

Keith Andrews has labelled James McClean the ‘‘most talked about youngster in the Premier League’ and says the Sunderland winger has instantly settled into life as an international footballer.

“Yeah, we seem to be the bogey team for managers at the moment,” says Shane Long as he reflects on a run of great results for West Brom which has also spelt managerial doom for Mick McCarthy and Andre Villas-Boas.

Manchester United’s miserable European home form continued as they were completely outplayed by Athletic Bilbao in their Europa League last-16 first-leg tie last night.

There are hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running Vita Cortex dispute after Siptu agreed last night to attend talks at the Labour Relations Commission next week.

It is apt that the venue where Chelsea will attempt to stave off the darkness that is threatening to envelope both their present and future is called The Stadium of Light.

Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher is optimistic he will be able to make his comeback from a chronic bowel condition next season.

Ronan O’Gara has vowed to continue his battle with Jonathan Sexton for the Ireland out-half jersey for at least two more years.

Roberto Mancini apparently laughed when Alex Ferguson took a leaf out of his psychological management manual with that carefully measured barb about desperation late last week.

There are times when perception and reality are different things.

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United are in the right place at the right time to strike for Premier League glory, even though he accepts his side let the fans down in Europe.

I don’t want to finish my career without winning it.

Just as Owen Coyle and his Bolton side overcame the initial hurdle of returning to action on the pitch seven days after Fabrice Muamba’s collapse at White Hart Lane, another daunting challenge presents itself — a return to the scene of the incident that has shocked football.

It is rare in modern football to see something quite so startling as Athletic Bilbao’s two victories over Manchester United.

Ireland’s poor record at reaching for the Under-17 European Championship finals continues after this season’s contingent were eliminated on Saturday with a game to spare.

It is getting to the time of the year when some people like to talk about Alex Ferguson’s mind games, and he obliged them before the weekend with some mildly provocative comments about Manchester City’s recall of Carlos Tevez.

Midfielder Samir Nasri believes Manchester City have proved they can stand the heat in the title race.

Wayne Rooney has apologised to a 9-year-old football fan after he fired a shot into the crowd which broke the youngster’s wrist.

Maradona claimed his urgings sent Tevez back to Manchester City in time for the final months of the Premier League battle with Manchester United.