Manchester United and England have been left sweating over the fitness of key striker, Wayne Rooney, after the front man got injured against Bayern Munich last night.

Rooney has picked up a knock to his right ankle and it looks set to keep him out of the Premier League clash against Chelsea at the weekend and the return game against Munich next Wednesday.

Rooney scored United’s away goal in Germany but his side later went on to lose 2-1 as Bayern managed to grab the winner with virtually the last kick of the game. The Rooney news just caps off a very bad evening for the United side.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Wayne has hurt his ankle, it’s too early to say the condition of it, but we will know tomorrow. I don’t think it is terribly serious. I don’t know. I can’t answer that [whether he’ll play against Chelsea].”

Munich’s coach added: “I don’t know if he is injured or how serious it is, but Rooney is United’s most important player. Look at the statistics. He has 34 goals this season. Then they have [Dimitar] Berbatov with 12 and then 11 own goals as their third top scorer, so that’s how important he is to United.”

If United were going to lose the game then they probably would have asked for a 2-1 loss. They have scored their away goal and they would back themselves to beat Bayern at Old Trafford.

However, United will face a much stronger side in the return game with a number of internationals and gifted players returning to the Munich side. Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose will probably start the game and winger, Arjen Robben, will return.

The bitter pill is Rooney’s injury. United will hope it isn’t a bad one and predictions are that he will only be out for around a week. However, if it is a bad one, they will have to nurse him and he may start thinking about his summer with England.

Rooney is so important and has been the sole reason for much of the team’s recent success. The problem for United is how they are going to adapt their side to make up for the influence, which Rooney has in spades.

It means that Dimitar Berbatov will probably be given the sole responsibility of leading the United attack in at least their next two games. Many would argue that these next two games are the club’s biggest of the season.

It will not fill United fans with confidence as they have said so many times in the recent past that the Bulgarian does not do enough to pull his weight in the side. Rooney brought so much to the team that United will struggle greatly now he is out.

On the other hand there is a big opportunity for someone to come in and do the magic. United need someone to step up and they need that someone to do it right now.

Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, has revealed that he has been acting like a little boy in the run up to the club’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Fabregas says he has been looking forward to the quarterfinal tie against one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Barca are also a club that the Spaniard has been constantly linked with over the last few seasons.

Arsenal have got a huge task on their hands and will have to play out of their skins in order to win the match. The ultimate strength of the Barca side may be something, which turns out to be too great for them.

Fabregas said: “Ever since the draw was made I’ve dreamt about this game and I am desperate to play in it. I’ve never disguised my affection for Barcelona, it’s where I was brought up and where I learned so many beautiful things about football.”

“But Arsenal have the same principles and this is our chance to show the world that we can stand shoulder to shoulder with Barcelona and emerge triumphant. You can’t imagine how much I want to be part of that.”

“Football is all about moments like this, all about challenges and this is a big challenge for Arsenal and for myself. Individually you want to prove yourself against the biggest players in the world. And that’s Barcelona – they are a team packed full of some of the best players in the world.”

“So you want to show you can play against them, there’s nothing better. To be honest this is the most exciting time of my career and now I want to make it brilliant. You know the next few days are going to be so good because the most important games of the season are coming. Yes, Barcelona are the best team in the world, so if you can avoid them until the final then it is definitely much better. But we are not scared of anyone.”

Barca go to the Emirates with some relatively rocky recent La Liga form. Although the club are still heading the way, alongside Real Madrid, they have seen a large lead slip, allowing their rivals back in.

Arsenal need to play perfect football and ultimately it will be a clash of two sides who like to get the ball down and virtually pass it into the net. The winner will be the side that manages to do this more efficiently.

Barca have a number of match winners who Arsene Wenger would have been worrying about. Lionel Messi is one such player, a player who has defined football brilliance in recent weeks, scoring about a zillion goals in Barca’s last few matches.

Barca also have one of the most gifted midfields in Europe, which will be problematic for Arsenal’s relatively inexperienced side. Andres Iniesta and Xavi are two such players, players who Fabregas has been tipped to replace within the next few seasons.

Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez, says that now he has all of his key players fit, he hopes this will be enough for the club to secure fourth place.

Liverpool have fallen way off the pace this year because of some poor football and some very bad results. The side have missed key players for long stretches and now Benitez has everyone fit, he thinks his side could be too strong.

However, Spurs and Manchester City are leading the way for the fourth place spot, which leads to Champions League football. Liverpool are relying on them slipping up in order for the Reds to be able to claw back the gap.

Rafa said: “If they can stay fit I think it will be very important because you have more options. When you have two games a week it is important to have different players available so you can change the system and you can keep the tempo. It is really important to have Fernando, Gerrard and Maxi available.”

“I can see Fernando is focused and he wants to do well. We are surprised sometimes by what he can do but my idea is that he can improve. He knows how to get better. Two goals and a great performance again against Sunderland is what the team needed.”

“Johnson is an attacking defender and sometimes when you have the team playing well at home and everyone is going forward he can be a real threat. He had one or two chances against Sunderland and he was very dangerous down the right side. At this moment we have to concentrate on what we can change now – to play well on the pitch and try to be as close as possible to the top four and progress in the Europa League and the other things will come.”

“I think it depends on us. If we keep winning our games – there are difficult games – we will be closer and every week will be different. Sunday at Birmingham will be tough but if we can win our games I think they [Tottenham, City and Villa] will lose some points and I think we can be there.”

Liverpool will have to finish fourth because they have a number of players in their squad who have quality, which demands European competition. The risk is that if they don’t secure this, these players could walk away from the club.

This will put Liverpool back another step and another until they start to become a mediocre midtable Premier League side. However, with everyone fit they have a very good chance of winning the Europa League, which would mean European football of some description next season at least.

The side cannot fall into the trap of overly relying on Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard all over again. It was this reliance, which meant they slipped way off the pace in the first place. It is also this sort of reliance, which threatens to tear Manchester United’s season apart with the new injury to Wayne Rooney.

The war of words between Bayern Munich and Manchester United continues to roll on as the pair prepare to meet in the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League.

Bayern coach, Louis van Gaal, says the club are not focusing on Wayne Rooney as the main threat to the current German league leaders. The coach says the United side is fill of other players who can cause problems.

However, the Dutchman has already said that the main focus for his Munich side will be to win their home game and win it well. They will have to get in front if they are going to have any chance of coming through the match at Old Trafford.

He said: “I’m not afraid of anybody. I’m never afraid and never have been. My players are not afraid of anybody either. We respect his [Rooney’s] qualities, but, as a team, we can handle him. We also have qualities. I think Sir Alex [Ferguson, the United manager] and his players are maybe a bit afraid of my players.”

“Rooney is a super-footballer and he isn’t that old. He is now very difficult to keep out of the game, but it is important not to concentrate on one player.”

“I was the one who said to Arjen that it would be better if he wouldn’t start. I protected him, but he and the doctor said that he could play.

Sir Alex Ferguson added: “I don’t pay any attention to that. They have had one or two bad results of late but that doesn’t mean they are a bad team. We are not getting carried away and thinking for a moment this will be an easy game.”

“I think it’s a massive week for us — we have two big games against Bayern and a great game against Chelsea. You have to enjoy it and at the same time know it’s crucial. You hope you don’t make any mistakes and hope they will happen to [your opponents] to win games for you. It’s going to be an exciting week.”

The match is sure to be a tight one but the point is that it could well be Rooney who is the difference in this game. Bayern’s problem seems to be that they are focusing only on their attack and the potency of their two wingers.

This is a bad mistake because if they are naïve enough to think that if their wingers bomb forward all night, they will win the game. United know exactly how to soak up the pressure and then hit teams on the counter attack.

They blew AC Milan away who have a much more experienced and technically gifted side than Bayern Munich. They are also leading the way in the Premier League having suffered all season long through injuries.

It would take a brave man to bet against United in Germany this evening because if Bayern switch off for a second, that’s the away goal in the bank for United.

Manchester United star striker, Wayne Rooney, has revealed the ways he gets rid of built up anger during training sessions and big games.

Rooney will lead the United attack when the side take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League. He seems to have changed a lot as a player from the days when he would race around the pitch constantly.

Rooney has said that his childhood love of boxing and other sports helps him to unwind after a stressful day at work. United will be hoping these new methods will see him translate his form into much needed Champions League goals.

He said: “I used to do boxing and football. I was training every night with one of them and when I got to about 15, Everton said I had to stop boxing if I wanted to carry on playing football.”

“I had a good chance of making the first team, so I stopped. I still love watching boxing. It is a big thing in my family. I can still do a bit now after training, but obviously not fighting. I enjoy it. It is a good way to get rid of some anger.”

Rooney’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, added ahead of tonight’s game: “The return of Ferdinand and Vidic to keep our back four solid is significant. Along with Edwin van der Sar there was a time when all those players were injured. It wasn’t easy and we were very fragile.”

“But you can see the solidity now. You can see the experience of these players and it is making a massive difference to the performances of the team. It is a true saying strong at the back, strong as a team. We are looking very strong now.”

“What is the old saying about people in glass houses? When Nemanja Vidic came off at half-time he had a lump on his head the size of an egg, his jaw was swollen and he had a black eye.”

United are very well placed and stand a very good chance of winning more than one trophy by the end of this season. A large part of that is down to Rooney and the club will be hoping his new de-stress techniques work.

Many predicted that the club would fall away after they sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. However, interestingly, Rooney has scored more goals for United this season than Ronaldo has done at his new club.

He is still not close to Ronaldo’s club record of 42 goals in a single season but Rooney must be doing something right. He has take on all of the pressure and responsibility and risen to the challenge perfectly.

If he bags one, two or three in Germany then there will not be many English fans surprised at all. United would do well to put a punch bag somewhere in the dressing room to make sure they get the most from the scouse maestro.

Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, has praised striker, Carlos Tevez, after the club’s 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

Tevez bagged all three goals during the match and has been carrying the current side for large parts of the current season. Mancini says his performance was the best he has seen from a striker while he has been at the club.

Wigan were no match for City and their chances were not helped by the sending off of Gary Caldwell. The player appeared to catch his boot on the turf, which meant he went into Tevez. The Argentine obliged by rolling around to get the red card produced.

Mancini said: “It was a good performance by Carlos. He scored three important goals and we won this game. I am happy with him. He is scoring a lot of goals and has always been a good player. He is a young player, who is improving every year.”

Wigan boss, Roberto Martinez, added: “I cannot understand how you can give something you can’t see. To give a red card you have to be certain. Then you are looking at the replay it is no way it is a red card offence.”

“Gary said he went in really strong and got the ball. Carlos Tevez saw it jumped off the ground, he’s the one who left both feet. We are all human beings and we all make mistakes but to give a decision after something you don’t see that is lying. You are making it up. That is hard to take.”

“He (the referee) said he saw Gary Caldwell with both feet off the ground. That’s why he gave the red card. But Gary Caldwell only went with one foot. That’s a real injustice.”

It doesn’t seem to matter what Tevez does he is always in the headlines. A lot of people may have lost some respect for the player but there is no doubt that he is still one of the most potent strikers in the Premier League.

Mancini should offer him a bonus of whatever he likes because had Wigan managed to get a point or more from the game then the axe may have already been coming down towards Mancini’s neck.

City have started to learn that it does not matter how much money you pump into a football club. Instant success is much harder to achieve and it could still be a few years before the side wins a trophy.

Spurs look in control of fourth place and with Liverpool always nipping at the heels of fourth place, it could be too big an ask for City to secure Champions League football this year.

Their fans will say they are much stronger and better than Spurs but what they will not acknowledge is the fact Spurs have never been in this position before. This means they are more likely to whatever it takes to stay in fourth place.

West Ham United have confirmed that all playing staff and other staff at the club have been given a three day rest break.

The move has come after some bitterly disappointing results for the club on their own ground as well as away from home. The break is intended to let everyone get some rest and freshness and return with a new energy.

The rumour mill continues to go round as the future of the club’s manager, Franco Zola, remains unclear. It is thought the break was the manager’s original idea and hopefully he will be able to come back stronger for it.

Co-owner, David Sullivan, said: “Mr Zola has gone to Sardinia. He’s given the players three days off to freshen up for the Everton game, they are back training on Wednesday.”

“The Board will be most surprised if he isn’t coaching the team this week. We had a very amicable meeting with him after the match on Saturday and he indicated nothing to the contrary.”

Striker Mido added: “We tried hard against Stoke but it didn’t work and we are very disappointed. I look at the faces of the players in the dressing room and I don’t see anyone who thinks they are in a team which will get relegated.”

Rob Green also said: “West Ham have been in worse positions at this point of the season. Now we have to dig in and fight. We are all behind the manager. He is a great man and great manager. I think we have a very good chance of staying up.”

A lot of people tend to forget that this is Zola’s first job in professional coaching or management of any serious note. The pressure of the Premier League is tremendous and Zola is as passionate as any other boss in the league.

The problem is that he’s been held back by the financial problems, which have stopped him from developing the squad. He has not been able to buy the players he wants and because of this, the squad is maybe not as advanced as he would have hoped.

The break will let the management and the players get away from the game for a couple of days and be by themselves. Hopefully they will come back with an extra edge, which will be too great for Everton at the weekend.

Some would argue that the news is a complete example of why West Ham are in the position they are. They need to scrap and win as many points as they can do and not training isn’t the best way to start going about this.

West Ham should just avoid the drop and if Zola is still in charge at the end of the season, it could well be the best thing that ever happens to him in his managerial career.

Chelsea player, Frank Lampard, has said that the 7-1 thrashing of Aston Villa over the weekend is one of the best games he has ever played.

Lampard scored four times as the blues totally blew apart Martin O’Neill’s side. It is very rare that a side playing another top side does this sort of thing and Lampard is soaking up all of it.

Villa are a side chasing a Champions League spot and hearts would have been in Chelsea mouths when they drew level through a John Carew goal. However, Chelsea’s strength ultimately showed.

It is also a very clear sign that the West London club are in great form ahead of the title run in. They are hot on the heels of Manchester United and will fancy their chances with the pair soon to play.

Lampard said: “The moving of the ball around, our passing and movement was fantastic. It was great football and that is when we are at our best. It is easy to write us off and say negative things about teams and players from the outside, but all we can do is play football.”

“We know the big games are to come, especially next week. We know the quality of the players we have, we’ve shown that over the course of the season.”

“We’ve beaten Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal playing different formations. We have to forget the little rut we’ve been in and concentrate on the target now.”

“The title race has opened up with the way we’ve played in the last couple of games in particular and we want to take advantage.”

Chelsea also have the added advantage of the fact that they are no longer in Europe as they were knocked out by Inter Milan. This means the players are a little bit fresher than they otherwise would be.

The club have to win the league. A club the size of Chelsea demands some sort of trophy each season and with the recent heart break of the Champions League over the last couple of seasons, they will do what they can to get the Premier League title back.

However, it won’t be easy. The other sides they have left to play are not likely to roll over the way Villa did at the weekend. Chelsea must not fall into the trap of getting complacent against the lesser sides in the league.

These sides will all be scrapping for points to stop the threat of relegation and funnier things have happened in football.

If the rest of the results go as expected then the winner of Chelsea against Manchester United will probably go onto win the league. United whipped out a 4-0 thrashing of Bolton over the weekend, which also proves they are in fine form and scoring plenty of goals as well.

Manchester United players, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, have declared themselves fit ahead of the club’s crucial week.

United take on Bayern Munich in the quarter final stage of the Champions League. United are looking to make it to their third final in the same amount of years and had been worrying over the fitness of both.

Rooney is likely to start in attack and play the game by himself while it is a little unclear over whether Ferdinand will take up his regular starting place along side Nemanja Vidic in the heart of the defence.

Ryan Giggs said: “I can’t believe it’s 11 years ago [since the two teams met]. It was one of the greatest nights of my life and for many fans too. This will bring back a lot of happy memories.”

“We will settle for the same score as in 1999 too but hopefully not leaving it as late as we did then. I am a little bit surprised about our overall record but it has always been tight. We have won the European Cup three times. They have won it on four occasions so you are talking about two clubs with massive history; full of experience and full of great players so hopefully it’s going to be a great spectacle.”

“The team we played against in 1999 was really powerful. It had strength all the way through. Now Bayern have a lot of trickery with Franck Ribery and Robben, and some other individual match-winners. But our European record in recent times has been good and if we play to the best of our ability we really fancy ourselves.”

United have focused a lot on the two Bayern wingers, which could pose them the greatest threat. There are no easy games at this stage of the competition and United are likely to adopt some very simple tactics.

Ribery and Robben will play on either wing and will swap over regularly. United are going to have to play two very wide players with a strong work ethic, as well as someone in the middle of the pitch who can double up.

This is the only way they will soak up Bayern’s attacking pressure. They have some very good players of their own, which they will be hoping the German side are worrying about.

There is a huge amount of pressure on Rooney to lead the front line in the same manner as he did in Italy, when United dumped out former European champions, AC Milan.

United would probably take a low scoring result right now if it meant that they managed to get an away goal in the bank. This is the most important thing they’ll have to achieve tomorrow night.

Bayern have to go for it on their own ground but this United team is wise and experienced enough to know how to handle this situation exactly. They will want to race into the final and win their fourth crown.

Liverpool captain and key England player, Steven Gerrard, has admitted that he has not been any where near his best this season.

The midfield maestro has been leading a Liverpool side, which has struggled to play good football, which brought many to tip them for the title this year.

Gerrard also needs to quickly improve in order to have the best possible chance of a regular starting place in the England team ahead of the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

He said: “I think it can be better, if you look at my form through the season as a whole I am not totally happy, I have not reached the level I would like to be at. It is not worrying me as I still have confidence that it can switch and turn at any given time to where I would want it to be at any given time, I have played well this season but I have come out of games when I have not been totally happy.”

“I am my own worse critic, I know myself when it is good and when it needs to be stepped up and the challenge for me now in the remaining games is to step up and drive Liverpool into fourth, try to go to the Uefa Cup [Europa League] final and go to the World Cup.”

“Time will tell, we are in a good situation – we are winning and confidence is high but we have learning to do and some improving to do if we are to go all the way. You need that bit of luck to keep players fit and the squad healthy – so we are in a good situation at this time but there is still a long way to the World Cup, a lot can happen.”

“I believe with this manager in charge the key time will be when we meet up, and up to the first game – when we basically will be living together, training – maybe twice a day, and we can learn a lot from each other and hopefully by the time the first game comes around every individual we will be well drilled, and know what we need to do to get out of the group as that is the first challenge.”

Gerrard will want to put to bed the jeers and abuse he has been getting in recent England games. In the last friendly match against Egypt, the Liverpool skipper was cheered off the pitch when his number was held up for a substitution.

In some respect if he or Chelsea’s Frank Lampard does not start for England at the World Cup it could have a positive effect on the team. It will allow someone else to step in and do a job who may bring a better balance into the side.

However, Gerrard is still capable of producing splendid displays and stunning goals at vital moments in big games. If he scores the winner against one of the country’s main rivals then no one is going to jeer or complain.