Champions League final player ratings: Chelsea beat Bayern in shootout
Arjen Robben was Bayern Munich's star man, while Ashley Cole's defensive brilliance was key for ChelseaBayern Munich: 4-2-3-1Manuel Neuer 6 A virtual bystander for long periods. Could only help Drogba's equaliser into the net, but scored in the penalty...
Wigan Athletic are a nightmare for pundits, says Roberto Martínez
Spaniard says chairman's belief allowed team to work towards keeping the Premier League dream aliveWhen Roberto Martínez returns home from work he routinely watches full recordings of the Wigan Athletic game on the 60in plasma screen that has become h...
Joleon Lescott: If City can close the title out it would be unreal
• 'We've been nervous at times but we deserve to be there'• 'I came to this club to make history,' says Yaya TouréManchester City may be only 90 minutes from wrapping up the Premier League but Joleon Lescott has urged the club's fans to "not ...
QPR’s Mark Hughes heads back to Manchester City with double agenda
Manager has been aware of the 'ominous' fixture since he got to Loftus Road in January and is ready to settle a scoreIt is the morning of 19 December 2009. When Mark Hughes switches his phone on he fields a series of calls from friends and reporte...
Alan Pardew keeping the faith in the Newcastle United revolution
• Newcastle have four practising Muslim first-team players• 'Religion is very important to my dressing-room,' says managerThe scale of the revolution taking place at Newcastle United is emphasised when a straight-faced Alan Pardew discusses religio...
Newcastle United and Papiss Cissé aim to break Manchester City hearts
Roberto Mancini's men, having beaten the other United, must now triumph on Tyneside against a side of dangerous potentialA special ceremony to unveil a new statue of Sir Bobby Robson will take place outside St James' Park on Sunday morning. Then, at lu...
Sheffield Wednesday 90 minutes away from ‘life-changing’ promotion | Louise Taylor
Rivals Sheffield United have lost control of own destiny and will have to gamble in the absence of jailed Ched EvansAs befits a place possessing more trees per person than any other European city Sheffield looks particularly verdant at the moment. Not ...
Alan Pardew wants to turn José Mourinho fixation to Newcastle’s gain
• Pardew studied Chelsea's home record under Mourinho• 'It has to be bad time to play Chelsea' after Wigan defeatAlan Pardew will be back on familiar territory when his Newcastle United players arrive at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. A few ye...
Kevin Davies displays his enduring value to Bolton to secure point
• Veteran striker scores brace against Sunderland• Kevin Davies vital to Bolton's efforts to stay upWhen Roy Hodgson paid £7.5m to bring Kevin Davies to Blackburn Rovers from Southampton in July 1998 the young centre‑forward was hyped as "the ne...
Louise Taylor on Carlos Tevez’s return
The City striker's unscheduled mid-season spell in Buenos Aires helped him to rediscover his love of footballCarlos Tevez once claimed he would retire from professional football at the age of 28. Shortly before celebrating that birthday on 5 February, ...
Sunderland 2-2 Bolton Wanderers | Premier League match report
Sunderland tried to sign Kevin Davies from Bolton Wanderers during the January transfer window and are reportedly keen on reviving that potential deal this summer. If he regarded this partly as an audition for a future starring role under Martin O'Neil...
Yaya Touré, the Manchester City colossus, proves worth every penny | Louise Taylor