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General Sports News

Fergie cools Rooney row

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 13/03/2009

Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Wayne Rooney following the Manchester United striker's admission that he 'hates' Saturday's opponents Liverpool.

Rooney's incendiary comments were published on the club's official website on Thursday before being withdrawn later in the day.

Liverpudlian Rooney, who grew up supporting Merseyside rivals Everton before playing for the Toffees, is usually the target of abuse when he faces Liverpool.

But ahead of Saturday's Premier League title showdown at Old Trafford in which United are slight betting favourites, Ferguson has defended his striker's comments.

Rooney had stated: "I grew up an Everton fan, my whole family are Everton fans and I grew up hating Liverpool and that hasn't changed.

"If we can beat Liverpool it will almost certainly put them out of the title race and that will be great for everybody at Old Trafford and especially for me."

Meanwhile, Reds boss Rafa Benitez has conceded it will be 'almost impossible' to win the Premier League title should Liverpool lose to bitter rivals United.

The Merseysiders need to win at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime to claw back some of the seven-point gap between themselves and the league leaders.

United also have a game in hand on the third-place Merseysiders and although stopping short of admitting his side's title chances would be ended by a defeat, Benitez is realistic over the effect a loss would have on their hopes.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has admitted his team are struggling to match the pace of their rivals following a disappointing series of test results on the eve of the new Formula One season.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen have been well off the pace at this week's sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The new season is just two weeks away and Whitmarsh has conceded the new MP4-24 car is failing to meet expectations.

In rugby union, Saracens' out-going director of rugby Eddie Jones will return to Japan to take over as general manager of Suntory when he leaves England.

Jones had already confirmed he would be leaving Vicarage Road at the end of the season, when he will be replaced by South African Brendan Venter.

Meanwhile, Sarries coaching co-ordinator Richard Graham has confirmed he will also be leaving at the end of the campaign to take up a role as skills coach with the Australian national side.

England ace Kevin Pietersen believes that India have recently taken one-day international cricket to a new level.

Pietersen is adamant that playing in the Indian Premier League will help he and his England colleagues try to match the new level of skill shown by India in recent times.

He told BBC Sport: "Have you seen the way they are playing in New Zealand? Then compare that to what we did out there last year. India are on a different level."

In the county game, Surrey have signed New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott as their overseas players for the first half of the 2009 season.

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