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Electronic Telegraph

Monday
4 August 1997
Issue 801


United give no hint of surrender as friendly fire repels Chelsea
Henry Winter & John Ley


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Charity Shield Pics



                Chelsea (0) 1 Man Utd (0) 1
                IT WAS only a glorified friendly, if any fixture
                involving Roy Keane and Dennis Wise can be so described,
                but yesterday's Littlewoods Charity Shield revealed that
                those who hope to live with Manchester United this season
                must match the champions' nerve as well as their verve,
                writes Henry Winter.
          
          Chelsea, one of the main contenders for a season that
          promises such riches, competed manfully against United but then
          faltered during that examination of individual strengths, the
          penalty shoot-out. United, their will so steely and kicking so
          assured, did not fail from the spot, despite the departure of
          Eric Cantona and substitution of Teddy Sheringham. Ball after
          ball raced past Ed de Goey, from Paul Scholes and Denis Irwin,
          and then from two of an average game's dominant figures, Keane
          and Nicky Butt.
          
          The lights had quickly gone out on Chelsea's ambitions, dimming
          the moment Frank Sinclair's penalty was pushed away by Peter
          Schmeichel, a keeper making good use of the new licence to move
          along the line. Gianfranco Zola and Frank Leboeuf both found a
          way past the giant Dane but, in between, Roberto di Matteo, so
          deadly from 30 yards, had missed, completely conceding the
          initiative to United.
          
          Downhearted but not downtrodden, Chelsea can take some comfort
          from this artificial defeat. In Gustavo Poyet, Ruud Gullit has
          acquired an elegant midfielder capable of influencing events in
          either area. Danny Granville, although caught out a couple of
          times, continues his rise into national prominence. Zola, as
          ever, looked capable of embarrassing opponents whenever he
          dropped deep.
          
          For United, there were similar encouraging signs. Winning a
          match on penalties, Cantona's most powerful area, will have
          confirmed life goes on. Keane, despite a nasty raising of the
          studs at Poyet, charged between boxes like a latter-day Bryan
          Robson, disrupting and creating in equal measure.
          
          With the Irishman's careless boots and Wise's unbuttoned lip,
          the game's captains almost threatened an outbreak of foot and
          mouth. Such excesses were unnecessary at such a showpiece. For
          there was plenty to savour, particularly for those of a red (or
          now white) persuasion. Jordi Cruyff, a lively substitute,
          showed he is in the mood to challenge for a first-team place.
          
          David Beckham, who also arrived late, quickly became involved,
          his close control and passing adding an extra dimension to
          United's game. Beckham has been deemed exhausted in certain
          quarters but the only thing he seems to have lost is an 'h'
          from his shirt name. Not the first Londoner to have dropped his
          aitches, Beckham remains central to United's fortunes, although
          Alex Ferguson must also juggle Scholes and Ryan Giggs in
          midfield.
          
          Starting without Beckham, United were swiftly into their
          measured stride, releasing the ball early to turn Chelsea's
          backfour. Typically committed in pursuit of possession,
          United's use of the ball was impressive in the early stages.
          Sheringham, Scholes and Keane all teased the ball over
          Wembley's broad, manicured acres. It was not all beauty. Keane,
          ridiculously, escaped caution for raising his right boot into
          Poyet's unstooping head. Chelsea's busy Uruguayan is as tall as
          he is talented and was lucky to avoid serious injury. Peter
          Jones, taking the day's charity motif too far, allowed Keane to
          muscle on.
          
          Through brain and brawn, United were in control, their movement
          and hunger too much for Chelsea, particularly in midfield.
          Gullit had to act, which he did perspicaciously in switching
          Jody Morris, previously the anchor, with Wise, who had begun
          tucked in on the right. Morris was performing tidily enough but
          Chelsea needed some bite in the face of Keane and Butt. Wise,
          as prickly as ever, moved inside, quickly placing a heavy brake
          on United's surges.
          
          Operating from a firmer platform, Chelsea began piecing
          together those pleasing, passing moves with Poyet and,
          increasingly, Zola, to the fore. Zola almost scored in the 19th
          minute but was denied by a wonderful hooked clearance from Gary
          Pallister. Poyet, meanwhile, continued to catch the eye, rising
          high to head Wise's cross over. Mark Hughes went closer but
          planted his header too near Schmeichel.
          
          The game briefly deteriorated, Wise being booked for a foul on
          Sheringham although Pallister, sliding through the back of
          Zola, failed to earn similar censure. Mistakes were scattered
          across the game but there were moments to treasure, such as a
          thrilling Chelsea move which cut straight through United's
          midfield. The ball danced as if mesmerised from Poyet to Di
          Matteo to Zola, whose cut-back was wasted horribly by Poyet.
          
          The game's competitive side was always in evidence. Sheringham,
          chasing a high ball, felled Steve Clarke and was eventually
          booked. That should have been the end of the incident but for
          Wise, who took it on himself to convey personally his side's
          displeasure to Sheringham and Irwin.
          
          For all his bolshiness, Wise remains a pivotal figure in
          Chelsea's plans, as was witnessed eight minutes after the
          break. Moments after Zola had tested Schmeichel's elasticity,
          Gullit's team of many talents took the lead, following a short
          corner between Zola and Wise, small men with big ideas. The
          deliberate pause in the set-piece momentum ensured attackers
          could lose markers, so allowing Hughes to arrive at the far
          post and head vigorously past Schmeichel and Phil Neville. Such
          a perfectionist as Schmeichel may reflect on his positioning.
          
          Never more dangerous than when their pride is piqued, United
          poured forward and were level within three minutes. Giggs,
          hitherto disappointing, bent in a corner-kick shimmering with
          possibilities. Amidst the sea of blue shirts, a white one moved
          with directness and confidence. Ronny Johnsen charged on,
          strangely ignored by Chelsea's central defenders and trailed
          only by Granville. It proved an uneven contest, Johnsen meeting
          the ball with power and placement.
          
          The trading of goals improved matters. Scholes shot just wide
          but, when Chelsea threatened, Keane needed to be alert to break
          up an attack flowing between Wise, Gianluca Vialli and Di
          Matteo. Then came the penalties and confirmation of United's
          mettle.
   
   The Littlewoods FA Charity Shield
   
   Chelsea (0) 1 Man Utd (0) 1
   M. Hughes 52; Johnsen 57.

   Chelsea: de Goey, Leboeuf, Clarke, Poyet, M. Hughes (Vialli 76), Wise,
   Di Matteo, Granville, Sinclair, Zola, Morris (Petrescu 46). Subs Not
   Used: Gullit, Hitchcock, P. Hughes, Nicholls, Clement. Booked:
   Sinclair, Wise, Petrescu.

   Man Utd: Schmeichel, Irwin, Johnsen, Pallister, Butt, Cole, Sheringham
   (Cruyff 72), Giggs (Beckham 72), P. Neville, Keane, Scholes. Subs Not
   Used: G. Neville, McClair, Poborsky, Van Der Gouw, Thornley. Booked:
   Sheringham.
   Man Utd won 4-2 on penalties
   Att: 73,636
   Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).
   _________________________________________________________________
   
   Gullit bored by errors in 'festival of bad passing'
   Managers unimpressed by Wembley fare, reports John Ley
   
   WEMBLEY'S traditional start to the season brought its customary
   disappointment, and neither Ruud Gullit nor Alex Ferguson minced their
   words in their description of the game.
   
   Gullit claimed the 1-1 draw, won on penalties by Manchester United,
   was a 'festival of bad passing' while Ferguson, whose side retained
   the shield, admitted there were too many bad mistakes.
   
   Gullit said: "We are not disappointed to have lost because penalties
   are always a lottery. But neither team played well. It became a game
   of cat and mouse with nobody creating any decent passes. It was all a
   little bit boring and from our point of view it was a bad, bad game.
   
   "Neither team created many chances and both goals came from corner
   kicks, which shows it was a bit sloppy. At least it shows we can cope
   with what is the top team in England."
   
   Ferguson added: "I didn't think it was a particularly good game and
   when the rain came there were a lot of mistakes because of it."
   
   The United manager shuffled his pack, bringing on Jordi Cruyff for
   £3.5 million striker Teddy Sheringham and said: "Teddy didn't do
   anything wrong but I wanted to give Jordi a game. We also gave David
   Beckham 20 minutes so he should be ready in two or three weeks' time."
   
   There were, at times, some niggling fouls and Sheringham's first
   competitive game ended with a caution for a foul on Steve Clarke,
   issued after complaints from Dennis Wise, the Chelsea captain.
   
   Ferguson said: "Nobody needs to go to the referee for him to book
   players and it wasn't a dirty game."
   
   Wise, though, insisted he did not get England team-mate Sheringham
   cautioned. "Teddy seems to think I got him booked but the referee was
   going to book him anyway," said Wise.
   
   Ferguson, meanwhile, reserved praise for Roy Keane, the man who has
   been given the captaincy on a short-term basis. Keane's performance
   and Ferguson's words suggest that he may get the job full-time. "I
   gave him the job because he has all the ingredients to be a good
   captain for us."
   
   Keane followed United captains Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Eric
   Cantona up the Wembley steps to collect the club's first, but probably
   not last, silverware of the 1997-98 campaign.
   
   He said: "Enough has been said about Eric [Cantona]. He will be missed
   but Manchester United goes on. Hopefully there will be more trophies
   along the way. It is a great honour to captain United and hopefully I
   will not let anyone down."
   
   There was confirmation, if any was needed, that Chelsea will be in the
   pack challenging United as they attempt to win the Premiership for the
   fifth time in six years.
   
   Ferguson said: "I couldn't pick one team who will pose the biggest
   threat. There are several candidates and Chelsea, with more
   consistency, will be one of them. Clearly there are a lot of clubs
   buying to win the premier division. Maybe they'll have to keep
   buying."
   
   Gianfranco Zola, last season's Football Writers' Footballer of the
   Year, collected another honour by being named man of the match.
   
   Zola said: "When you finish a game like today I think you should share
   the cup because both teams deserved it. But it's OK, we're happy
   because we played at the same level as the champions. We have been
   back for only 20 days but we know we can play better."
   
   United played their own name games at Wembley. While the name of
   Beckham was spelt wrongly, Cruyff emerged yesterday with the name
   Jordi.
   
   Last season the son of Johan insisted on using his famous surname,
   despite the fact that at Barcelona he used his first name.
   
   But at Wembley yesterday Cruyff, who has a close affinity to Spain,
   where he was born, emerged with Jordi on his back.
   
      _______________________________________________________________
   
     Man Utd down Chelsea on penalties
     
     (Writethrough adding quotes, detail)
     By Clare Lovell

     LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuter) - Manchester United beat Chelsea 4-2 on
     penalties to win the Charity Shield on Sunday after English
     soccer's traditional season-opener ended in a scrappy 1-1 draw.
     Former United striker Mark Hughes put Chelsea ahead in the Wembley
     friendly between the league champions and F.A. Cup winners, nodding
     in a cross from Italian international Gianfranco Zola in the 52nd
     minute.

     But Ruud Gullit's cosmopolitan London side enjoyed only five
     minutes of celebration before Norway's Ronny Johnsen headed in a
     Ryan Giggs corner for the equaliser

     With United showing off new signing Teddy Sheringham and Chelsea
     parading tough Uruguayan midfielder Gustavo Poyet, the game proved
     evenly balanced with neither side able to turn on the skill for a
     capacity Wembley crowd.

     But when it came to the shootout United showed their mettle and
     poise. They put away all four of their penalties as Chelsea
     squandered two.

     Frank Sinclair's effort was easily saved by Peter Schmeichel,
     diving to his right, while Italian international Roberto Di Matteo,
     hero of last May's Cup final when he scored a goal after 45
     seconds, blasted his shot over the bar.

     Paul Scholes, Denis Irwin and Roy Keane scored for United enabling
     Nicky Butt to fire in the winner.

     Neither side looked on top of their form in the first half, with
     passes going astray and chances missed.

     Gullit, who put himself of the bench but did not play, said
     afterwards the game was a "festival of bad passes, bad mistakes. It
     was not a good game."

     Sheringham, under enormous pressure to fill the boots of the
     departed United hero Eric Cantona, was busy but failed to connect
     to a Giggs free kick in the 10th minute and had shots blocked by
     young Chelsea back Danny Granville in the first half and by Poyet
     in the second.

     Poyet, himself, failed to connect after a piece of Italian magic
     between Di Matteo and Gianfranco Zola put the ball at his feet six
     metres out.

     And the ever-resourceful Zola also blew a golden chance as the rain
     fell in the dying moments of the match. More Italian wizardry
     between Gianluca Vialli, brought on as substitute for Hughes, and
     Di Matteo gave Zola the ball just outside the area but he shot wide
     as Schmeichel advanced.

     Four players were shown yellow cards, including Chelsea's explosive
     captain Denis Wise who developed an on-field feud with Sheringham
     littered with pushing and posturing.

     Sheringham was cautioned for flattening Steve Clarke with his elbow
     and United skipper Roy Keane was booked after he felled Poyet with
     a flying kick to the face.

     Gullit and United coach Alex Ferguson, relaxed and chatting happily
     to each other during the shoot-out, will be content no one got
     badly hurt before the serious stuff starts with the first premier
     league matches next weekend.

     Gullit said he was not disappointed to lose what he called the
     "lottery" of the shootout, adding: "We know we can cope with the
     best in England as we proved during the second half of last
     season."

     Ferguson, who said Chelsea would be one of the sides to watch in
     the coming season, added his team had not felt fully fit after a
     recent energy-sapping far-eastern tour. "But next week I think we
     will in better shape," he added.
     
       _______________________________________________________________

     Manchester United - 1-Peter Schmeichel, 3-Denis Irwin, 5- Ronnie
     Johnsen, 6-Gary Pallister, 8-Nicky Butt, 9-Andy Cole 10-Teddy
     Sheringham, 11-Ryan Giggs, 12-Phil Neville, 16-Roy Keane, 18-Paul
     Scholes. 

     Chelsea - 1-Ed De Goey, 5-Frank Leboeuf, 6-Steve Clarke,
     8-Gustavo Poyet, 10-Mark Hughes, 11-Denis Wise, 16-Roberto Di
     Matteo, 17-Danny Granville, 20-Frank Sinclair, 25-Gianfranco Zola,
     28-Jody Morris.


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