David Beckham has hailed John Terry as the strongest character in football after the Chelsea defender scored the goal that helped England beat the USA.
Terry, captain for the night, headed home Beckham's 38th-minute free-kick to open the scoring in England's 2-0 victory last night - one week after missing the shoot-out penalty that cost the Blues victory in the Champions League Final in Moscow.
While Beckham admits Terry's display at Wembley will not banish the misery he suffered in Russia, the Los Angeles Galaxy star claims Terry now has the same influence that Stuart Pearce, now assistant coach, had in the 1990s.
"You could see the emotion going through him, in his eyes. Once he scored that goal and he was celebrating, you could see a slight relief.
Stuart Pearce
"You see that passion sometimes. You saw it in Stuart Pearce's face when he scored that penalty [in Euro 96 after missing one in the 1990 World Cup] and you saw it in JT's face.
"I put the ball in the right area and it was written for JT to get on the end of it. As a team we were all pleased and proud of him. He's got a lot of support within the team, outside of the team and at his club. To be captain and score a goal at Wembley means a lot to JT and no one can ever question his passion and dedication when he puts an England or Chelsea shirt on. That's what we look at."
Beckham, who was handed a commemorative golden cap by Sir Bobby Charlton prior to kick-off to mark passing his century of appearances in the last match against France, refused to be drawn on who should take the skipper's role permanently.
Terry became the third different player to assume the responsibility under Fabio Capello and Pearce after Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand, with Gareth Barry set to lead the team against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.
He added: "Every one of those players is a strong character and passionate about their country and when you see them play, everyone can see how much it means to them. If you show that kind of passion then you have got every chance of being a great captain."
Gerrard also paid tribute to Terry's character. "I am so pleased for John," he said.
"He is a top guy off the pitch and also a great player on it." Of those players who were in Moscow for the Champions League Final, only Ferdinand and Wayne Bridge will travel to Port of Spain for Sunday's friendly.
The Manchester United manager is furious at the statements made by Real coach Bernd Schuster and president Ramon Calderon in the last 24 hours that questioned Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford.
Speculation surrounding the Portuguese winger has intensified despite United’s
thrilling Champions League final victory over Chelsea.
Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid, accusing the La Liga champions of “lacking morals” following the Spanish club’s latest comments about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Manchester United manager is furious at the statements made by Real coach Bernd Schuster and president Ramon Calderon in the last 24 hours that questioned Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford.
Speculation surrounding the Portuguese winger has intensified despite United’s
thrilling Champions League final victory over Chelsea.
But Ferguson said: “You get used to Real Madrid’s performance in these things. I read last night that Calderon’s talking, Schuster’s talking, and they use this market as a vehicle to unsettle players.
"The simple facts are that he is with us and has four years left on his contract and that’s the first thing. And Calderon makes that great statement ‘slavery was abolished many, many years ago’. Did he tell Franco that? Give me a break.
“In terms of great clubs, Barcelona have far better moral issues than Real Madrid will ever have. We know Real are not the only club with an interest in Ronaldo but they are not saying so.
“Do you not think we’ve not had many interests from the big clubs in Europe about our best players? Of course. But they don’t get into the nonsense that they get into. They think that they can ride roughshod over everyone but they won’t do it with us.”
Cristiano Ronaldo today cast a shadow over Manchester United’s Champions League victory by refusing to commit his future to the club.
Just 12 months ago Ronaldo signed a new five-year contract, worth £120,000 a week to the Portugal winger.
But reports from Spain suggest the 23-year-old could be close to agreeing a move to Real Madrid if United are prepared to negotiate.
Significantly, in the wake of last night’s triumph over Chelsea, Ronaldo would not confirm that he will be at Old Trafford next season.
“I never promise anything,” he said. “I don’t promise anything to my mum and I don’t promise anything to the supporters. I want to stay. But the future? No one knows.”
It is rumoured that Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, met with Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic just before the match in Moscow.
The player said: “Nobody spoke with me.” But he added: “We will see in the
next two weeks.”
Ronaldo is just one year into a five-year contract at United but his mum has previously stated that she would love to see her son play at the Bernabeu during her lifetime.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes his side's hopes of wresting Ronaldo away from United rest on what the player himself wants.
"The players play where they want. If a player decides to leave he is unstoppable, slavery was abolished a long time ago, nobody can prevent a player from moving," Calderon was quoted as telling Punto Radio.
"If the player is firm in his decision there is no one who can hold him back. I have always said that if Manchester want to sell him, we will ask about him, and if he wants to come and we can pay what they ask."
United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, however, claims Ronaldo has no intention of leaving.
"Without doubt he is going to continue in Manchester. He is very happy with us, he has a contract and there is no fear that he will leave," Queiroz, the former Real Madrid coach, said on Canal Plus.
Just 12 months ago Ronaldo signed a new five-year contract, worth £120,000 a week to the Portugal winger.
But reports from Spain suggest the 23-year-old could be close to agreeing a move to Real Madrid if United are prepared to negotiate.
Significantly, in the wake of last night’s triumph over Chelsea, Ronaldo would not confirm that he will be at Old Trafford next season.
“I never promise anything,” he said. “I don’t promise anything to my mum and I don’t promise anything to the supporters. I want to stay. But the future? No one knows.”
It is rumoured that Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, met with Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic just before the match in Moscow.
The player said: “Nobody spoke with me.” But he added: “We will see in the
next two weeks.”
Ronaldo is just one year into a five-year contract at United but his mum has previously stated that she would love to see her son play at the Bernabeu during her lifetime.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes his side's hopes of wresting Ronaldo away from United rest on what the player himself wants.
"The players play where they want. If a player decides to leave he is unstoppable, slavery was abolished a long time ago, nobody can prevent a player from moving," Calderon was quoted as telling Punto Radio.
"If the player is firm in his decision there is no one who can hold him back. I have always said that if Manchester want to sell him, we will ask about him, and if he wants to come and we can pay what they ask."
United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, however, claims Ronaldo has no intention of leaving.
"Without doubt he is going to continue in Manchester. He is very happy with us, he has a contract and there is no fear that he will leave," Queiroz, the former Real Madrid coach, said on Canal Plus.
Kanu was Portsmouth's hit-and-miss hero again as his first-half goal won the FA Cup for Harry Redknapp's team, who had just enough Premier League pedigree to see off Coca-Cola Championship outsiders Cardiff.
But Kanu and Pompey's joy was despair for the Welsh club's Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, who palmed a low cross by John Utaka straight to the long-limbed striker, who half-volleyed it into the net from about three yards.
Kanu scored only his seventh goal of the season, and the first since his semi-final winner against West Brom last month, which was a similar close-range effort from a keeper's parry.
And although he squandered two other marvellous opportunities in a match that failed to produce any great exciting football, he was granted a standing ovation by the delirious Pompey fans when replaced by Milan Baros for the final few minutes.
It was Pompey's who 11th 1-0 win of the season, earning them a place in next season's UEFA Cup - their first European adventure to go with their first FA Cup triumph for 69 years.
Cardiff, the fifth team from football's second tier to meet Pompey in the FA Cup this season, rarely threatened after an opening burst and Portsmouth saw out the game with solid defending in front of largely under-employed goalkeeper David James.
James, back from a calf injury, had to be alert to deny the dangerous Paul Parry twice in the opening 12 minutes as Cardiff settled the quicker despite Enckelman having to deal with a nasty deflection off Muntari's driven 40-yard free kick in Pompey's first attack.
The England keeper had to come off his line after Peter Whittingham's ball in from the right caught Sol Campbell out of position and sailed over his head just too far in front of the striker.
And when Parry, who missed the semi-final through injury, got himself on the end of Joe Ledley's neat flick which again left Campbell gasping, James had to put his 6ft 3in frame in the way once more and the shot appeared to spin away off his right thigh.
But with Sulley Muntari and Lassana Diarra finally starting to buzz in midfield and Pedro Mendes - a surprise choice in front of big Papa Bouba Diop - spraying smart passes, Pompey began to impose themselves.
After 21 minutes, Herman Hreidarsson made a muscular run down the left to feed Muntari, who turned the ball cleverly inside to Kanu.
The striker had the fans on the edge of their seats with a delightful shimmy that left Enckelman in a helpless heap, but with the goal gaping, he somehow managed to roll his shot against the outside of a post.
Pompey's 4-5-1 formation was a puzzle. Diarra was often further forward than designated lone-striker Kanu and shot wide with a snap effort from 20 yards.
But they had had problems to sort out at the back against Tony Capaldi's monster throw-ins and the crisp delivery of Stephen McPhail and Ledley.
When Glen Johnson briefly went missing at right back, McPhail's pass gave Parry acres of room just outside the area on left but instead of shooting as he entered the box, he tried to cut it back for Kevin McNaughton, who arrived too late on the far post.
Then Cardiff's Roger Johnson came up from the back to outjump Sylvain Distin and Campbell and nod Whittingham's free kick from the left just over.
But after 37 minutes, Pompey were handed their gift when John Utaka, who had struggled to get into the game out on the right, took on Capaldi and found just enough space to cross low into the six yard box.
Enckelman made a hash of collecting the ball, palming it straight to Kanu, who joyfully tucked the rebound home.
It was hard to see Cardiff coming back after that, even though they had the ball in the net just before half-time when, in the manic scramble that followed a half-cleared corner, Dutch centre-half Glenn Loovens charged the ball down with his upper arm before lobbing precisely over James.
And they should have been two down six minutes into the second half when Kanu spurned another golden chance, scuffing his shot from a central position inside the area after Kranjcar's spectacular backheeled pass put Diarra clear down the left to provide the cross.
Kanu claimed his effort struck the arm of defender Johnson but referee Mike Dean, who had sound game, ruled it accidental and gave a corner.
Cardiff gave it a real go right to the end, sending on Aaron Ramsay, 17, to become the second youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final but they could not break through Pompey's redoubled defence.
The Football Association have written to Avram Grant and asked him to explain his claim that referees Steve Bennett and Mike Dean handed Manchester United the title on a plate.
The Chelsea manager could now be charged with misconduct after he questioned Bennett's integrity following his display in United's match at Wigan on Sunday.
United won 2-0 to ensure they beat Chelsea to the title by two points, but Grant was angry because Bennett failed to give Wigan a penalty when Rio Ferdinand handled in the area or show Paul Scholes a second yellow after he fouled Wilson Palacios.
Grant chose yesterday's official press conference previewing Chelsea's Champions League Final match against United in Moscow next week to make his feelings known.
He said: “The referee? He was, as expected, good for one team. I think in England there are some very good referees.
“But there are some — a few of them — you can influence, like you saw.”
Grant also claimed Dean, who was in charge of Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to United in Grant's first game in charge in September, was wrong to send off John Obi Mikel। The FA will also study a video recording of Grant's comments, although it is understood the Israeli's guilt is not considered clear cut at this stage.
Sir Alex Ferguson today insisted that he would not allow the Chelsea manager's mind games to disrupt his plans for next week's final. Grant's remarks had come as no surprise to Ferguson, who said: “I could go on and on myself.
“We feel we didn't get any decisions during the season.
“Maybe, when we went to Chelsea we should have been champions by then.”
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba has told Grant he must play him up front with Nicolas Anelka if Chelsea are to beat United.
The Blues boss favours the 4-3-3 formation used by Jose Mourinho with Drogba playing up front on his own. But Drogba believes he should be paired with Anelka in Wednesday's Champions League Final with United.
He said: “I have a lot of admiration and respect for Nicolas. He came to England very young and had to prove himself in a very demanding League.
“I'm a bit disappointed we've not been able to play together all that often since he arrived in January.
“But given the chance we can do a lot of damage to defences. Hopefully that will be the case against United.”
The Chelsea manager could now be charged with misconduct after he questioned Bennett's integrity following his display in United's match at Wigan on Sunday.
United won 2-0 to ensure they beat Chelsea to the title by two points, but Grant was angry because Bennett failed to give Wigan a penalty when Rio Ferdinand handled in the area or show Paul Scholes a second yellow after he fouled Wilson Palacios.
Grant chose yesterday's official press conference previewing Chelsea's Champions League Final match against United in Moscow next week to make his feelings known.
He said: “The referee? He was, as expected, good for one team. I think in England there are some very good referees.
“But there are some — a few of them — you can influence, like you saw.”
Grant also claimed Dean, who was in charge of Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to United in Grant's first game in charge in September, was wrong to send off John Obi Mikel। The FA will also study a video recording of Grant's comments, although it is understood the Israeli's guilt is not considered clear cut at this stage.
“We feel we didn't get any decisions during the season.
“Maybe, when we went to Chelsea we should have been champions by then.”
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba has told Grant he must play him up front with Nicolas Anelka if Chelsea are to beat United.
The Blues boss favours the 4-3-3 formation used by Jose Mourinho with Drogba playing up front on his own. But Drogba believes he should be paired with Anelka in Wednesday's Champions League Final with United.
He said: “I have a lot of admiration and respect for Nicolas. He came to England very young and had to prove himself in a very demanding League.
“I'm a bit disappointed we've not been able to play together all that often since he arrived in January.
“But given the chance we can do a lot of damage to defences. Hopefully that will be the case against United.”
Midfielder Murphy was left virtually unchallenged to nod in a Jimmy Bullard free-kick of a largely dismal game at Fratton Park which left FA Cup Finalists Portsmouth nursing their fourth consecutive defeat before next week's Wembley final against Cardiff.
But Fulham did not care a jot for Pompey's plight. And boss Roy Hodgson was able to celebrate a remarkable escape having almost given up the ghost a month ago when they lost at home to fellow strugglers Sunderland.
Since then they have beaten Manchester City, Birmingham and now Portsmouth. Yet Harry Redknapp's side, even without the injured David James and Sol Campbell, had ample possession and opportunity to sink their visitors.
Jermain Defoe, Niko Kranjcar and Pedro Mendes all went close but they really did not threaten Fulham's brave defence too much.
Those Fulham fans who packed the Milton End of Fratton Park were down in the dumps long before half-time after hearing relegation rivals Reading and Birmingham had both gone ahead.
They knew they should have done the same but for a brilliant save by goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, who was standing in for the injured David James for the third match in a row.
Fulham fans had to cheer former Reading man Ashdown, though, when Paul Stalteri's cross found Davies whose shot from eight yards was going just inside a post until Ashdown flung himself across goal to push it away.
Kranjcar then cut for a one-two exchange with Kanu before blazing over and then drilled a free kick through Fulham's wall to make Kasey Keller hang on tight.
Brede Hangeland's interception stopped Kanu's goal-bound shot and John Utaka and Pedro Mendes both shot wide.
Fulham leaned heavily on the creativity of Bullard and Davies' non-stop running while Brian McBride struggled to find a way past the Pompey defence even though Noe Pamarot deputised for the injured Sol Campbell.
Fulham's Clint Dempsey looked hopefully at referee Mark Clattenburg when he went down in Pompey box but Hermann Hreidarsson's challenge did not even appear to make contact and the official waved protests away.
Dempsey, to his credit, responded superbly when needed at the other end - stopping Defoe on the edge of the Fulham area with a marvellous tackle but the Pompey striker should have put his side in front before the interval he blasted over.
Defoe and Kranjcar both tested veteran Fulham keeper Keller with snap shots after the break and the American was lucky to be in the right place to keep out the latter's 30-yards piledriver in the 55th minute.
Stand-in skipper Sylvain Distin almost headed into his own goal during a wild melee and then Kamara's cross came off Pamarot and flashed just wide as Ashdown flung himself across goal more in hope than expectation.
And when Bullard's latest free kick sailed into the area in the 74th minute Pompey generously left Murphy with all the room and time he needed to steer a simple header home and send the fans behind the goal wild with delight.
An extra three minutes stoppage time at the end must have shredded a few nerves but Fulham but with Hangeland a rock at centre back alongside Irishman Aaron Hughes, never looked vulnerable.
In a clear attempt to make them put in a committed performance at Chelsea on what promises to be a dramatic last day of the season, the Manchester United manager has pointed to a night out Bolton's players had on Monday.
Ferguson said: 'All you wonderful people in the Press have been talking about the integrity of Wigan but nobody has even mentioned Bolton. All we have seen is Wigan players saying how they will beat Manchester United on Sunday. Fine. I have no problem with that.
'But then you hear about Bolton players out all week celebrating. Both teams are safe but one is all keyed up to play Manchester United and the other one is out celebrating.'
Bolton manager Gary Megson confirmed yesterday that Ferguson's spies had indeed spotted his players at The Living Room in central Manchester on Monday. But he insisted they were not 'celebrating' and had been out only that night and not, as Ferguson said, all week.
'The players were not celebrating,' said Megson. 'They went out together, which they have done in the past on Monday night. But since that point they have been preparing properly and I can assure Sir Alex and everybody else that we will be going into the Chelsea game as prepared as we possibly can be, and giving it everything that we possibly can.
'Wigan are safe, but we are not. We have got to make sure we retain our status.'
A heavy defeat for Bolton and huge wins for Reading and Fulham is the only way Megson's side can go down, and Ferguson clearly thinks they are in a comfort zone that will make life easy for Chelsea.
'The only thing that gives me confidence about Bolton is the manager and the assistant manager,' he said. 'I have known Archie Knox for many years, having worked with him at Manchester United and Aberdeen, and I wish he was playing on Sunday because he will not enjoy hearing about his players going out celebrating. Neither will Gary Megson when there is such an important game in the offing.'
Megson added: 'I am not at all disappointed by the comments. I spoke to Sir Alex in the week. I speak to him a lot.'
Ferguson says defender Nemanja Vidic will return against Wigan tomorrow, but thinks the best Wayne Rooney can hope for is a place on the bench after his hip injury. But he believes Rooney will be ready for the Champions League Final in Moscow.
The United manager said: 'We are going to Wigan and it doesn't matter what the Wigan and Chelsea players are saying. We are going there with a genuine chance of winning the League, supported by some fantastic fans.
'I imagine it will be half United and half Wigan and you don't often get that in the Premier League. We would normally get around 4,000 tickets but, believe me, Manchester United fans have been buying tickets all week at the Wigan end.'
Financial results show United posted a significant loss last year, have increased debt to their creditors and are yet to pay over £56million in transfer fees for players.
Accounts released this week by Red Football Joint Venture Ltd, the company set up when American businessman Malcolm Glazer bought the club three years ago, showed United posted a £58.2m loss in the year ending June 30, 2007.
The net result was an improvement on the £135.3m loss posted in the previous year as the club's revenue in 2007 rose 21 per cent to £210.1m.
However, the figures also revealed the club had borrowings of £666.7m in the year, up from £603.9m the previous year.
That took the total owed to creditors to £764m, including £56m in transfer fee instalments.
Arsene Wenger fears his young Arsenal team are in danger of breaking up after it emerged that Emmanuel Adebayor has demanded £80,000 a week to stay at the club.
The 24-year-old striker signed a new contract last summer worth a weekly £35,000, but he has told Wenger he wants to be paid in line with the top players in the Barclays Premier League.
The manager fears a salary and transfer explosion this summer, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool expected to spend upwards of £50m each on top-class signings.
Despite claiming he can compete with United and Chelsea on the field over the next few years, Wenger has privately expressed fears that Arsenal will soon be too far behind the top teams in financial terms.
Mathieu Flamini became the first to walk out when he agreed a move to AC Milan earlier in the week, turning down Arsenal's £55,000-a-week offer, and it is feared others may follow.
Alexander Hleb is determined to move to Inter Milan in the summer and Jens Lehmann has played his last game.
Adebayor, after suffering an initial knockback, is expected to make more noises following Sunday's final game of the season at Sunderland.
His agent Stephane Courbis said: 'Now is not the time to talk about his contract. We'll wait until next week.'
Hleb's agent Nikolai Shpilevski said last night: 'Alexander is preparing to make one of the most important moves of his life. He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions. There's no way back now.'
Wenger claimed his current team could eclipse the 2004 'Invincibles', but Arsenal are falling behind the top clubs in Europe in terms of transfer fees and salaries.
Despite claims from former chief executive Keith Edelman that the manager has a pot of gold at his disposal, it is thought Wenger's hands are tied in the transfer market, largely due to the crippling cost of their two-yearold Emirates Stadium.
All that could be solved if the club were to accept the help of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, but chairman Peter Hill-Wood and director Danny Fiszman say no.
Arsenal, along with Chelsea, have been offered the chance to sign Thierry Henry, but Wenger has turned down the opportunity.
Henry was deemed a 'special case' when he signed a contract worth £130,000 a week at the Emirates in the aftermath of the defeat in the 2006 Champions League final, but Arsenal are no longer in a position to pay that kind of figure.
Chelsea, who bid £50m for Henry when Roman Abramovich arrived in English football, also considered taking him back from Barcelona but have decided against it.
The 24-year-old striker signed a new contract last summer worth a weekly £35,000, but he has told Wenger he wants to be paid in line with the top players in the Barclays Premier League.
Despite claiming he can compete with United and Chelsea on the field over the next few years, Wenger has privately expressed fears that Arsenal will soon be too far behind the top teams in financial terms.
Mathieu Flamini became the first to walk out when he agreed a move to AC Milan earlier in the week, turning down Arsenal's £55,000-a-week offer, and it is feared others may follow.
Alexander Hleb is determined to move to Inter Milan in the summer and Jens Lehmann has played his last game.
Adebayor, after suffering an initial knockback, is expected to make more noises following Sunday's final game of the season at Sunderland.
His agent Stephane Courbis said: 'Now is not the time to talk about his contract. We'll wait until next week.'
Hleb's agent Nikolai Shpilevski said last night: 'Alexander is preparing to make one of the most important moves of his life. He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions. There's no way back now.'
Wenger claimed his current team could eclipse the 2004 'Invincibles', but Arsenal are falling behind the top clubs in Europe in terms of transfer fees and salaries.
Despite claims from former chief executive Keith Edelman that the manager has a pot of gold at his disposal, it is thought Wenger's hands are tied in the transfer market, largely due to the crippling cost of their two-yearold Emirates Stadium.
All that could be solved if the club were to accept the help of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, but chairman Peter Hill-Wood and director Danny Fiszman say no.
Arsenal, along with Chelsea, have been offered the chance to sign Thierry Henry, but Wenger has turned down the opportunity.
Henry was deemed a 'special case' when he signed a contract worth £130,000 a week at the Emirates in the aftermath of the defeat in the 2006 Champions League final, but Arsenal are no longer in a position to pay that kind of figure.
Chelsea, who bid £50m for Henry when Roman Abramovich arrived in English football, also considered taking him back from Barcelona but have decided against it.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has admitted he will have showdown talks with owner Mike Ashley tomorrow.
Keegan called his press conference a day early after he was summoned to a meeting with Ashley and Dennis Wise, the club's executive director of football.
The trio are due to discuss Newcastle's summer spending plans but Ashley is also seeking an explanation from his manager following his extraordinary outburst on Sunday.
Keegan said he could not see Newcastle breaking into the top four of the Barclays Premier League but it was his dig at Ashley which raised eyebrows in the St James's Park boardroom.
Before starting his press conference at lunchtime today, Keegan insisted he would not take any questions about the pending meeting with his owner.
Keegan said: "The reason we have press conference a day early is so I can go to London tomorrow to talk to Mike Ashley.
"That is a good thing and I will look forward to that and that is the only comment I will make.
"I will only talk about Everton from now on so any other questions are for another day and I will try and answer them as honestly as I can at that time."
Keegan was unable to resist explaining himself once more, though, as he insisted Newcastle can be the fifth biggest club in the country but did not have the financial clout of the top four.
He said: "I was giving an honest answer to a question about how we had fared against Chelsea. I said we were a million miles away.
"We are the fifth biggest team in the country and I need to make sure we achieve that. Sunday against Everton will be a big test for us to see if we can reach that point. I won't say 'we'll win the League' because I'd be carted off to the nuthouse if I said that.
"Only Man United have bigger crowds than us. But they have a bigger global appeal because they have a bigger profile than us.
Everton, as Newcastle had done before them, briefly broke the stranglehold the big four clubs have had on the corresponding league places in recent years, and Keegan points to their development since as an illustration of what he means.
He said: "David Moyes has done a fantastic job there - I think they are the only team that has broken into that top four, so the best person to ask if it can be done is David Moyes.
"I remember the year after that, they finished down at the bottom because the problem then is you have more games and you need a bigger squad.
"There are other problems that come with success, but they are nice problems."
Keegan was presented with a potential problem of a different kind when he learnt that striker Mark Viduka could be sidelined for up to six months.
The 32-year-old went for a planned injection to address his long-standing Achilles problem knowing he was likely to be out for three months as a result.
However, the injury proved to be worse than feared and he will discover over the next fortnight whether or not he needs a minor operation and the extended period of rehabilitation that will involve.
Keegan said: "He went to have this injection. He had the injection and the problem is slightly worse than was feared.
"He goes back in 10 days to two weeks having had the injection, and that may well solve the problem, as was originally thought.
"But there is a chance, the doctor informs me, that he might need something more than that."
Keegan called his press conference a day early after he was summoned to a meeting with Ashley and Dennis Wise, the club's executive director of football.
The trio are due to discuss Newcastle's summer spending plans but Ashley is also seeking an explanation from his manager following his extraordinary outburst on Sunday.
Before starting his press conference at lunchtime today, Keegan insisted he would not take any questions about the pending meeting with his owner.
Keegan said: "The reason we have press conference a day early is so I can go to London tomorrow to talk to Mike Ashley.
"That is a good thing and I will look forward to that and that is the only comment I will make.
"I will only talk about Everton from now on so any other questions are for another day and I will try and answer them as honestly as I can at that time."
Keegan was unable to resist explaining himself once more, though, as he insisted Newcastle can be the fifth biggest club in the country but did not have the financial clout of the top four.
He said: "I was giving an honest answer to a question about how we had fared against Chelsea. I said we were a million miles away.
"We are the fifth biggest team in the country and I need to make sure we achieve that. Sunday against Everton will be a big test for us to see if we can reach that point. I won't say 'we'll win the League' because I'd be carted off to the nuthouse if I said that.
"Only Man United have bigger crowds than us. But they have a bigger global appeal because they have a bigger profile than us.
Everton, as Newcastle had done before them, briefly broke the stranglehold the big four clubs have had on the corresponding league places in recent years, and Keegan points to their development since as an illustration of what he means.
He said: "David Moyes has done a fantastic job there - I think they are the only team that has broken into that top four, so the best person to ask if it can be done is David Moyes.
"I remember the year after that, they finished down at the bottom because the problem then is you have more games and you need a bigger squad.
"There are other problems that come with success, but they are nice problems."
Keegan was presented with a potential problem of a different kind when he learnt that striker Mark Viduka could be sidelined for up to six months.
The 32-year-old went for a planned injection to address his long-standing Achilles problem knowing he was likely to be out for three months as a result.
However, the injury proved to be worse than feared and he will discover over the next fortnight whether or not he needs a minor operation and the extended period of rehabilitation that will involve.
Keegan said: "He went to have this injection. He had the injection and the problem is slightly worse than was feared.
"He goes back in 10 days to two weeks having had the injection, and that may well solve the problem, as was originally thought.
"But there is a chance, the doctor informs me, that he might need something more than that."
Cristiano Ronaldo placed his name alongside two of Manchester United's most illustrious strikers yesterday when his two goals in the 4-1 defeat of West Ham took his season's tally to an incredible 40.
Only Old Trafford legend Denis Law and Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy have claimed 40 goals in a season for United — and Ronaldo's feat in joining them leaves Sir Alex Ferguson tantalisingly close to claiming his 10th Premier League crown in 16 years.
United will wrap it up if they win at Wigan next Sunday, and Ferguson grabbed the microphone after yesterday's victory to tell 76,000 ecstatic Old Trafford fans: 'Enjoy yourselves there next weekend."
Ferguson also raved about double Footballer of the Year Ronaldo. "His goal record is phenomenal, and 90 per cent of the time he has been playing as a wide player," said the manager.
"The boy is developing all the time. He also showed his courage when he took a terrible tackle and came back. That's a great signal to anyone who wants to kick him out of the game."
Ronaldo struck twice inside 24 minutes — the second bouncing off his thigh — to take his Premier League tally to 30, a milestone which saw a local bookmaker make a £50,000 donation to Manchester Children's Hospital.
Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick sealed the points and because of their vastly superior goal difference, United will effectively be champions if Chelsea lose at Newcastle on Monday.
Only Old Trafford legend Denis Law and Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy have claimed 40 goals in a season for United — and Ronaldo's feat in joining them leaves Sir Alex Ferguson tantalisingly close to claiming his 10th Premier League crown in 16 years.
Ferguson also raved about double Footballer of the Year Ronaldo. "His goal record is phenomenal, and 90 per cent of the time he has been playing as a wide player," said the manager.
"The boy is developing all the time. He also showed his courage when he took a terrible tackle and came back. That's a great signal to anyone who wants to kick him out of the game."
Ronaldo struck twice inside 24 minutes — the second bouncing off his thigh — to take his Premier League tally to 30, a milestone which saw a local bookmaker make a £50,000 donation to Manchester Children's Hospital.
Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick sealed the points and because of their vastly superior goal difference, United will effectively be champions if Chelsea lose at Newcastle on Monday.
