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General Sports News

Fergie drops retirement hint

Author: Rose Young
Date: 10/04/2009

Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested he will retire after leading Manchester United to two more Champions League successes.

Last month, Ferguson's son Darren - himself a manager at League One side Peterborough United - claimed his 67-year-old father could retire at the end of the next season.

Ferguson jnr claimed he could step down after guiding the online betting favourites to two more league titles, which would take the Red Devils beyond the current record 18-mark set by bitter rivals Liverpool.

However, the veteran United boss has now suggested his focus is just as much on Europe, where he feels his teams have underachieved during his 26 years at the helm.

Meanwhile, United defender Rio Ferdinand will not be risked in Saturday's Premier League trip to Sunderland.

Ferdinand has missed United's last two games with a back problem which he aggravated while on England duty last week.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has played down fears surrounding the fitness of Steven Gerrard after revealing his skipper may play against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Reports on Friday morning suggested the influential midfielder could miss three games with a thigh strain picked up in the midweek Champions League defeat to Chelsea.

But although admitting Gerrard does have a slight muscle injury, Benitez claims he could yet play a part in the Reds' lunchtime showdown with Blackburn at Anfield.

Arsene Wenger has denied suggestions that injured defender William Gallas may have played his last game for Arsenal.

Gallas was ruled out for the remainder of the season on Thursday with a knee ligament injury picked up in the 1-1 Champions League draw against Villarreal earlier in the week.

The France international's long-term future at the Emirates Stadium has been in doubt after he was stripped of the club captaincy in November following an interview in which he criticised several team-mates.

But Wenger still believes the former Chelsea defender will be a part of his squad next season.

In the Championship, Queens Park Rangers have parted company with Paulo Sousa after just 26 games at the helm.

The Portuguese coach was the fourth manager to work under co-owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone since the Formula One magnates took over at Loftus Road in late 2007.

In golf, Chad Campbell admitted he was left with a 'sour taste in his mouth' after two late bogeys cost him the chance to make history in the first round of the Masters.

The American's opening seven-under-par round of 65 was good enough for a one shot lead over compatriots Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan.

But dropped shots on the 17th and 18th holes saw him miss out on breaking the long-standing record for the lowest round in a Major championship, which stands at 63.

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