Rooney wants Europa triumph

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has set his sights on winning the Europa League.

United will play in Europe’s second-tier competition in the new year after being sent crashing out of the Champions League by Basel last week.

While that came as a shock to a club that has played in three of the past four Champions League finals, Rooney does not want to dwell on that disappointment any longer.

The 26-year-old wants to make the most of the challenges that remain this season and, as well as defending the Premier League title, that includes Europa League success.

When asked if he was looking forward to playing in the Europa League, Rooney said: “Definitely.

“It’s a shame we’re out of the Champions League. That’s what we all want to play in.

“Unfortunately we went out and now we turn our attention to the Premier League and Europa League.

“I don’t think the manager’s won the Europa League, so I’m sure he’ll want to win it.

“Every competition we enter we want to win.

“There are some good teams but we have to believe, keep working and hopefully we can go on and win it.”

Rooney was speaking to the club’s website, www.manutd.com, in a live webchat with supporters.

The United talisman is also not fazed by the prospect of facing arch-rival Manchester City in the FA Cup third round next month.

City won 6-1 last time the sides met and with the teams first and second in the Premier League, the tie was the undoubted highlight of the cup draw.

Rooney said: “I was in my car at the time. I was driving from my house to Liverpool to see my mum and dad.

“When I got in I put the TV on and saw the draw.

“Both teams would probably rather have met each other later on but it’s a great team to play in and if you win it then you know you’ve knocked one of your main competitors out.”

United bounced back from its defeat in Switzerland by beating Wolves 4-1 last weekend but a serious injury toNemanja Vidic and a further enforced absence for Darren Fletcher have dampened spirits.

Defender and captain Vidic will miss the rest of the season with knee ligament damage while midfielder Fletcher is taking an indefinite break to recover from the bowel condition ulcerative colitis.

Rooney said: “The two of them are both important players for us.

“With Nemanja being our captain it’s a shame we’ve lost him for the season as he’s a great defender. But the younger lads have been great.

“It’s a shame for Darren, too – he’s a great player and a great person.

“Hopefully he gets well soon and comes back strongly for us.”

Rooney discussed a number of issues ranging from career highlights and role models to his choice of menu if appearing on a TV cookery programme as he spoke to the website for half an hour.

Rooney infamously threatened to leave United when he submitted a transfer request last year but he backtracked and later admitted he had made a big mistake.

He is now firm in his love of the club and made that clear when asked what he liked most about life at Old Trafford.

“Winning,” said Rooney, who joined United from Everton in 2004. “It’s a successful club and it’s an honour to play here.

“I’m proud to have played here for such a long time. For the players, the fans, the manager… we all play to win and when you do that it’s an amazing feeling.”

Drogba future uncertain, admits Villas-Boas

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Didier Drogba’s Chelsea future remains unresolved — but insists Fernando Torres is going nowhere.

The prospect of both strikers remaining at the club has been thrown into doubt with Drogba tipped to follow Nicolas Anelka to China while there has been mounting speculation the Blues could be ready to cut their losses on Torres.

But Villas-Boas — whose side will attempt to secure a fourth successive Premier League win at Wigan this weekend — insists he is anxious to keep both forwards at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba, 33, has emerged as Villas-Boas’s first choice striker during Chelsea’s recent upturn in form but is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

Speaking before the trip to Wigan, the manager admitted the length of any new deal was proving to be a sticking point — but is hopeful terms can be agreed.

“It’s between a two-year and a one-year and we’re waiting to make the best decision possible,” Villas-Boas said.

“The situation is on-going and we hope to solve it. Whatever the outcome or agreement, or non-agreement,there will be no question of his professionalism and integrity and he will keep on representing Chelsea this season.

“Didier’s importance is straightforward, it’s not just because he is performing now. The conversation has been on-going since the beginning and we’ll continue to push for that.

“It’s not up to me to speak about what is in Didier’s mind at the moment regarding his future.

“What I think is clear is that he is pretty much involved with Chelsea and his mindset is on competing with his colleagues for this club. That’s the most gratifying thing, the commitment from the player. His professionalism is not in question.”

Chelsea’s season has been revived in the last two weeks with victory over Valencia securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League before the 2-1 win over Manchester City left Villas-Boas’s side just seven points off the pace in the Premier League.

Torres, though, has been forced to watch from the substitutes’ bench, triggering reports the Spaniard might be offloaded for a cut-price £20 million, just 12 months after he arrived from Liverpool in a £50 million record deal.

Villas-Boas remains adamant the Spain international is not for sale, however. “It’s not true. I’m sorry,” he said. “He is not available at any price, for sure.”

Victory at the DW Stadium will reduce the gap on leaders Manchester City to just four points with Roberto Mancini’s side due to face Arsenal the following day.

And while Villas-Boas has no new injuries to contend with, he conceded Michael Essien, absent all season with a knee injury, is still a month away from full fitness and expects the Ghana international to miss the African Cup of Nations.

“We’re looking at mid-January, that’s the best we can think about. There was a setback at the beginning of December if I’m not wrong which took him back 10 days and that’s extended into January, so I don’t think he will go to the African Cup of Nations,” the manager said.

Wigan have been lifted by the victory at West Bromwich Albion that moved them out of the bottom three and revived hopes they can escape relegation.

Like Villas-Boas, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has also been forced to deny reports his main striker could quit the club in January.

Hugo Rodallega is also out of contract next summer but Martinez said: “Hugo Rodallega is a professional and has been a very important member of this football club. He still is.

“He has had a stop-start season and we were fortunate his injury at Everton was not as bad as we feared.

“Now it is a matter of getting back to his best. There is no hidden agenda or anything complicated.”

INIESTA: “WE PLAYED WITH THE SAME RESPECT IN THE FIELD OF L’HOSPITALET IN SAN SIRO”

A Iniesta not only asked about the Al Sadd, rival on Thursday, but the manchego also had to answer some questions about the classic Saturday. ”It’s nice that people are euphoric, happy with us and the party of Bernabéu. From the distance we noticed the euphoria of the people,” he said. Although nuanced: “There is much league yet. Not decide anything in December.” 

“I was convinced that the team could do well against Real Madrid. When you win a game like this gives you a bonus for all that lies ahead. I do not know how it will affect the defeat to Madrid,” he added. 

And said: “I do not think it costs us more to us when facing the away games. Where do we go ready to play the games. If we have not achieved positive results in areas more ‘modest’ is for other reasons. We played with the same respect in the field of Hospitalet in San Siro. ” 

In relation to adaptation to the Asian country and their schedules, Iniesta said: “We are able. It is not easy to adapt to something new, a new schedule. Everything is different toSpain, to which live there. These days we are trying to sleep well adapted to the schedule here. compete well. There are very excited that everything goes well. ” 

On his way when, after good football recital he gave at the Bernabeu, Iniesta said he is “either way, at a time is good as the equipment. Every little bit helps. When the team works well, the players as well. It is a logical relationship. Eager to make a good world, ending the year with a title. That’s what’s important. ” 

On Al Sadd, said that the Blaugrana have seen several videos on the Asian champions and highlighted three players: Niang, Belhadj and Keita. 

Finally, Iniesta expressed his desire to reach the final of ‘Mundialito’: “Beyond the motivation of getting back in the Club World Cup, a couple of years I had many problems with injuries and could not play the final . Now, hopefully come and win the title to finish the year very happy. ”

PIQUE SHAKIRA REUNITED IN TOKYO BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK

While most of the players traveled to Japan accompanied by their families, Gerard Pique(The football shirt €13.5) had to wait another day to land on land Nippon parents, Joan and Montserrat, and its very famous girlfriend, Shakira. The central Catalan had traveled with her grandmother, while his grandfather Amador Bernabeu, will fly to Japan on Friday, after meeting the next opponent for Barca in the Champions League after the draw for the UEFA in Nyon. 

The couple did not miss a minute of their reunion, which coincided with the day off to Pep Guardiola left his men to acclimate to Japanese soil. Gerard and ‘Shak’ spent the afternoon in Tokyo. Used not only to browse a few shops but also for sightseeing. Following Rijkaard’s license, the player skipped the team hotel and players spent the night in Tokyo with his partner. 

After the rest day, the central Catalan returned to the hotel where the staff is housed, as did the Colombian, who changed Tokyo Yokohama. For their part, most families, among which are the player’s parents, staying at the exclusive Hotel Tokyo Mandarin. 

Shakira has had other commitments before traveling to Japan as the Top 40 Gala last Friday, the 9th, where he was one of the premiere players and absolute change of hairstyle, barber work of his head, Jordi Ripoll.