JOSE MOURINHO expects Chelsea to be given a much tougher test of their Barclays Premiership credentials this season but warned his title rivals “we have improved.”

EUROPE’S richest soccer clubs want to put the boot into national football bodies.

STEVEN GERRARD has insisted that he will “definitely” sign a new contract with Liverpool.

FORMER soccer star George Best is in intensive care, being treated at the private Cromwell Hospital in west London.

LOUIS SAHA is expected to complete his move to Manchester United at the end of the week, dashing Chris Coleman’s hopes of keeping him at Fulham.

ALEX FERGUSON has been warned to his future conduct by the Football Association after a charge of improper conduct against the Manchester United manager was found to be proven.

ALEX FERGUSON is hailing rookie American goalkeeper Tim Howard as Manchester United’s star performer during the first half of the Barclaycard Premiership campaign.

IAN HUNTLEY choked back tears yesterday as he told how he promised his parents that he would tell the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman exactly how they died.

URUGUAY coach Jorge Fossati is ready for a tough final hurdle against Australia but is confident of reaching the 2006 World Cup finals.

THE English FA is investigating claims by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson suggesting that the ruling body made a deal with Arsenal over disciplinary measures.

MANCHESTER United star Wayne Rooney’s dream week continued yesterday after a court overturned a driving conviction.

IRATE Manchester United supporters have accused the club of fleecing fans by widening a three percent ‘ticket tax’ to all match-day applications.

ENGLAND defender Rio Ferdinand has officially started his eight-month ban from football, the day after he appealed against his suspension for missing a drugs test, it was announced by the Football Association last night.

NEWCASTLE striker Michael Owen has admitted the club will have to be patient as they attempt to drag themselves back into contention for major honours.

ALEX FERGUSON and Manchester United will decide today whether to appeal against a two-match touchline ban imposed for abusing match officials.

SPAIN’S Jose Antonio Reyes is hoping England defenders Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand can put domestic issues to one side when the two countries clash tomorrow night.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger revealed that he lives like a leading professional footballer in a bid to avoid the health problems which have afflicted so many of his fellow managers.